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Impact of Multiple Scattering on Longwave Radiative Transfer Involving Clouds

Journal Article · · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS001117· OSTI ID:1415147
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences Texas A&,M University College Station TX USA
  2. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA USA
  4. Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc Cambridge MA USA
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Abstract

General circulation models (GCMs) are extensively used to estimate the influence of clouds on the global energy budget and other aspects of climate. Because radiative transfer computations involved in GCMs are costly, it is typical to consider only absorption but not scattering by clouds in longwave (LW) spectral bands. In this study, the flux and heating rate biases due to neglecting the scattering of LW radiation by clouds are quantified by using advanced cloud optical property models, and satellite data from Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), CloudSat, Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES), and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) merged products (CCCM). From the products, information about the atmosphere and clouds (microphysical and buck optical properties, and top and base heights) is used to simulate fluxes and heating rates. One‐year global simulations for 2010 show that the LW scattering decreases top‐of‐atmosphere (TOA) upward flux and increases surface downward flux by 2.6 and 1.2 W/m 2 , respectively, or approximately 10% and 5% of the TOA and surface LW cloud radiative effect, respectively. Regional TOA upward flux biases are as much as 5% of global averaged outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). LW scattering causes approximately 0.018 K/d cooling at the tropopause and about 0.028 K/d heating at the surface. Furthermore, over 40% of the total OLR bias for ice clouds is observed in 350–500 cm −1 . Overall, the radiative effects associated with neglecting LW scattering are comparable to the counterpart due to doubling atmospheric CO 2 under clear‐sky conditions.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF) (United States); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; SC0013080
OSTI ID:
1415147
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1415148
OSTI ID: 1433103
Journal Information:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 9; ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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