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Diurnal variations of outgoing longwave radiation and albedo from ERBE scanner dataThe scanning instruments of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment provide measurements of instantaneous broadband albedo and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) with a spatial resolution of about 50 km. Data from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), which is in an orbit that precesses through local time at the rate of one hour every three days, can be used to describe the mean, hourly diurnal variations in the distribution of OLR and albedo on this scale. Much of this variation is caused by cloud type and amount changes. Two-dimensional histograms show the coevolution of OLR and albedo with the diurnal cycle, and the distribution of albedo-OLR pairings associated with the cloud distribution in a particular region and season. The albedo-OLR pairing characterizes a cloud type and determines its net effect on the energy balance at the top of the atmosphere. Diurnal variations in cloud type and amount in many regions are sufficient to cause substantial errors in radiation budget quantities and cloud properties estimated from observations taken from a single sun-synchronous orbit. Errors in estimated net radiation can be as large as 50 W/sq m for oceanic stratus regions and for land regions during summer.
Document ID
19910058250
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hartmann, Dennis L.
(Washington Univ. Seattle, WA, United States)
Kowalewsky, Karen J.
(Washington Univ. Seattle, WA, United States)
Michelsen, Marc L.
(Washington, University Seattle, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Volume: 4
ISSN: 0894-8755
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91A42873
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-18157
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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