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The effect of brokenness on cloud-climate sensitivityA study has been made of the effect of brokenness on the infrared and albedo feedback of clouds in climate models using a simplified treatment of broken cloudiness. It is shown that the individual feedback terms computed using the plane-parallel assumption differ markedly from the computations performed for a regular array of cuboidal clouds. If the cloudiness changes such that clear areas become cloudy but the nature of the broken cloud field remains unchanged, then both the feedbacks are magnified, the infrared more so than the albedo. However, if individual elements in the cloud field are increased horizontally in a constrained area, the feedbacks can be enhanced or diminished depending on the cloud fraction and aspect ratio of the elements. It is also shown that, in the global average, the ratio of the change in outgoing infrared flux to global albedo, as deduced from satellite measurements, will be larger than model simulations using planiform clouds.
Document ID
19820060512
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Harshvardhan, MR.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences, Greenbelt; Maryland, University, College Park, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 39
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
82A44047
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-26463
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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