Effect of Clouds on the Calculated Vertical Distribution of Shortwave Absorption in the Tropics

Journal Article · Tue Sep 23 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 113:D18203

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD009791· OSTI ID:946642

McFarlane, Sally A; Mather, James H; Ackerman, Thomas P; Liu, Zheng

High vertical resolution profiles of cloud properties were obtained from cloud radars operated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program on the islands of Nauru and Manus in the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP). Broadband flux calculations using a correlated k-distribution model were performed to estimate the effect of clouds on the total column and vertical distribution of shortwave absorption at these tropical sites. Sensitivity studies were performed to examine the role of precipitable water vapor, cloud vertical location, optical depth, and particle size on the SW column absorption. On average, observed clouds had little impact on the calculated total SW column absorption at the two sites, but a significant impact on the vertical distribution of SW absorption. Differences in the column amount, vertical profiles, and diurnal cycle of SW absorption at the two sites were due primarily to differences in cirrus cloud frequency.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 946642
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-58628; KP1205010
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 113:D18203, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), 113:D18203 Vol. 113
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
CLOUDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
RADAR
SENSITIVITY
SOLAR RADIATION
TROPICAL REGIONS
WATER VAPOR
WAVELENGTHS
clouds
radiative transfer
remote sensing