Global moisture transport in ERA5

The new ECMWF ERA5 data shows the global moisture transport at an unprecedented detail level. For my atmospheric dynamics class, I have downloaded a year of data at the 850 hPa level (just above the boundary layer) and composed a movie.

The movie shows many of the essential ingredients of the weather. The Intertropical Convergence Zone is prominently visible, and travels north and south throughout the year. Furthermore, the African and Indian Monsoon show up clearly, just as atmospheric rivers do that bring (sub-)tropical air towards the midlatitudes.