Time-spatial measurements of liquid holdup distributions along the axis of a tube were carried out over the length of 1325 mm in upward gas-liquid two-phase flow. In order to clarify the characteristics of the behavior of ephemeral waves, a method of determining sub-wave-veins, that is, the traces of ephemeral waves on the time-spatial behavior charts of the interface, was developed. This method was applied to the flow conditions in huge wave flow and annular flow regimes, and the sub-waveveins in these flow regimes were successfully determined. Time-spatial behavior charts of the interface with determined sub-wave-veins were systematically presented and the characteristics of sub-wave-veins were discussed. Close inspection of the behavior of sub-wave-veins reveals that there are two types of ephemeral waves: one has a shorter life span and the other has a longer life span during which absorption and discharge of small ephemeral waves occurs. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 30(2): [114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125] 2001