Shortwave cloud-radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere at the surface and of the atmospheric column as determined from ISCCP C1 data

Journal Article · Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD02667· OSTI ID:6702170

Laszlo, I ^[1]; Pinker, R T ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park (United States) Hungarian Meteorological Service, Budapest (Hungary)
2. Univ. of Maryland, College Park (United States)

To understand the role of clouds in the atmospheric circulation and in the modulation of energy available at the surface, their effect on the atmospheric and surface absorption should be determined. The C1 data of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project, along with the Satellite Algorithm for Shortwave Radiation Budget, are used to estimate the shortwave cloud effects in terms of the cloud-radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), at the surface and of the atmospheric column on a global scale for the July months of 1983-1985. Global means of TOA cloud forcing range from [minus]43.6 (1983) to [minus]39.1 Wm[sup [minus]2] (1985). The cloud forcing for July 1985 is underestimated, by about 8 Wm[sup [minus]2], compared with that obtained from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. The cloud forcing at the surface is almost identical to that at the TOA, indicating that the effect of clouds on the shortwave energy budget of the surface-atmosphere system is such that most of the cooling is at the surface. Regression analysis of the computed fluxes shows a strong linear correlation between the TOA and surface cloud forcing. The monthly averaged regional values of the atmospheric cloud forcing are generally less than the estimated uncertainty of 20 Wm[sup [minus]2]. Assuming that the uncertainties cancel, the global mean of the atmospheric cloud forcing is between 1 and 2 Wm[sup [minus]2], suggesting a slight warming owing to the presence of clouds. 35 refs., 9 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6702170
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 98:D2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLOUDS
ABSORPTION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HEATING
SHORT WAVE RADIATION
SOLAR RADIATION
ALBEDO
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
COOLING
DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION
DIRECT SOLAR RADIATION
ENERGY
ENERGY BALANCE
MODULATION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MATHEMATICS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SOLAR FLUX
SORPTION
STATISTICS
STELLAR RADIATION
540110*
540210 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)