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The atmospheric moisture budget and surface interactions for the southern Great Plains are evaluated for contrasting May-June periods (1998, 2002, 2006, and 2007) as background for the Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) of (wet) 7-30 June 2007. Budget components [flux divergence (MFD), storage change (dPW), and inflow (IF/ A)] are estimated from North American Regional Reanalysis data. Precipitation ( P) is calculated from NCEP daily gridded data, evapotranspiration ( E) is obtained as moisture budget equation residual, and the recycling ratio ( PE/ P) is estimated using a new equation. Regional averages are presented for months and five daily P categories. Monthly budget results show that E and E − P are strongly positively related to P; E − P generally is positive and balanced by positive MFD that results from its horizontal velocity divergence component (HD, positive) exceeding its horizontal advection component (HA, negative). An exception is 2007 (CLASIC), when E − P and MFD are negative and supported primarily by negative HA. These overall monthly results characterize low P days (≤0.6 mm), including for nonanomalous 2007, but weaken as daily P approaches 4 mm. In contrast, for 4 < P ≤ 8 mm day−1 E − P and MFD are moderately negative and balanced largely by negative HD except in 2007 (negative HA). This overall pattern was accentuated (including for nonanomalous 2007) when daily P > 8 mm. Daily P E/ P ratios are small and of limited range, with P category averages 0.15-0.19. Ratios for 2007 are above average only for daily P ≤ 4 mm. CLASIC wetness principally resulted from distinctive MFD characteristics. Solar radiation, soil moisture, and crop status/yield information document surface interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]