Absorption of solar radiation by the atmosphere as determined using satellite, aircraft, and surface data during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (ARESE)

Journal Article · Sun Feb 27 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JD901063· OSTI ID:20216301

Valero, Francisco P. J. ^[1]; Minnis, Patrick ^[2]; Pope, Shelly K ^[1]; Bucholtz, Anthony ^[1]; Bush, Brett C ^[1]; Doelling, David R ^[3]; Smith, Jr, William L ^[3]; Dong, Xiquan ^[3]

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1. Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Center for Atmospheric Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla (United States)
2. Atmospheric Sciences Division, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia (United States)
3. AS and M, Inc., Hampton, Virginia (United States)

Data sets acquired during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (ARESE) using simultaneous measurements from five independent platforms (GOES 8 geostationary satellite, ER-2, Egrett and Twin Otter aircraft, and surface) are analyzed and compared. A consistent data set can be built for selected days during ARESE on the basis of the observations from these platforms. The GOES 8 albedos agree with the ER 2, Egrett, and Twin Otter measured instantaneous albedos within 0.013{+-}0.016, 0.018{+-}0.032, and 0.006{+-}0.011, respectively. It is found that for heavy overcast conditions the aircraft measurements yield an absorptance of 0.32{+-}0.03 for the layer between the aircraft (0.5-13 km), while the GOES 8 albedo versus surface transmittance analysis gives an absorptance of 0.33{+-}0.04 for the total atmosphere (surface to top). The absorptance of solar radiation estimated by model calculations for overcast conditions varies between 0.16 and 0.24, depending on the model used and on cloud and aerosol implementation. These results are in general agreement with recent findings for cloudy skies, but here a data set that brings together independent simultaneous observations (satellite, surface, and aircraft) is used. Previous ARESE results are reexamined in light of the new findings, and it is concluded that the overcast absorptance in the 0.224-0.68 {mu}m spectral region ranges between 0.04{+-}0.06 and 0.08{+-}0.06, depending on the particular case analyzed. No evidence of excess clear-sky absorption beyond model and experimental errors is found. (c) 2000 American Geophysical Union.

• OSTI ID: 20216301
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D4 Vol. 105; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ALBEDO
CLOUDS
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LIGHT SCATTERING
RADIATION MONITORING
SATELLITES
SOLAR RADIATION