GENERALIZED MOUNTAIN EVAPORATION PROFILES FOR TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL LATITUDES

Evaporation-elevation relationships for many areas of the tropics and subtropics are reviewed in an attempt to define general relationships and are discussed with respect to atmospheric profiles of temperature and humidity. At least three characteristic profiles can be identified: (i) a general decline in evaporation with elevation for most mountainous areas, (ii) a decrease in evaporation with elevation to a minimum (near 1,200 m in Hawai'i) and then a continual increase above that level for trade wind islands and possibly the subtropical Andes, and (iii) an increase in evaporation with elevation in a shallow layer (750 m in southern California) near sea level and a continual decrease above that level for dry, coastal, subtropical west coasts.