The impact of updates of spectroscopic data on the short-wave absorption by atmospheric water vapor is examined and compared to line parameters from the 1996 edition of HITRAN database. First, the impact of the 1999 HITRAN update to near-infrared water vapor line intensities was examined. Second, new measurements of water vapor absorption for the 0.82- and 0.94-&mgr;m bands are updated in the model. The HITRAN-99 parameters cause a globally and annually averaged increase in short-wave absorption of 0.26 Wm-2 with values for a particular month and latitude reaching 0.41 Wm-2. The new measurements lead to a globally and annually averaged increase of 0.64 Wm-2, reaching almost 1 Wm-2 in a particular month and latitude. These two cases increase the total short-wave absorption by the atmosphere by between 0.4 and 1%. They contribute to resolving the discrepancy between observed and modeled short-wave absorption and indicate a need for the spectral data for other near-infrared and visible bands of water vapor to be re-examined. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union