Most approaches to the modeling of annular flow require information regarding the thin liquid film surrounding the central gas core. This film is hypothesized to present a rough surface to the gas core, enhancing interfacial shear and pressure loss, with the roughness closely linked to the height of the film. This height is typically obtained from conductance probe measurements. The present work used planar laser-induced fluorescence to provide direct visualization of the liquid film in upward vertical air-water annular flow. Images were processed to produce the distribution of film heights. The standard deviation and average film thickness are found to be an increasing function of liquid flow and a decreasing function of gas flow, with the standard deviation approaching 0.4 times the average at sufficient liquid flow. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.