Approaches of comparison for clear-sky radiative fluxes from general circulation models with earth radiation budget experiment data
- State Univ. of New York, Stoney Brook, NY (United States)
In order to compare the clear-sky greenhouse effect and cloud-radiative forcing from general circulation models with Earth Radiation Budget Experiments (ERBE) data, it is necessary to calculate the general circulation model (GCM) clear-sky radiative fluxes in a way consistent with ERBE. This study discusses problems associated with the available methods for clear-sky radiative flux computations in GCMs and proposes a new approach, which uses a statistical relationship between the grid cloud cover and the availability of ERBE clear-sky measurement, established from ERBE pixel data, to sample the model radiative fluxes. Calculations with version 2 of the NCAR Community Climate Model using observed SST show good agreement of clear-sky sampling from the proposed method with ERBE sampling. It is also shown that large improvements are achieved in the spatial variability of the model clear-sky radiative fluxes over ocean, with reference to ERBE, by using the new clear-sky sampling method. 11 refs., 10 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 160008
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 99, Issue D3; Other Information: PBD: 20 Mar 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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