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The seasonal cycle of low stratiform cloudsThe seasonal cycle of low stratiform clouds is studied using data from surface-based cloud climatologies. The impact of low clouds on the radiation budget is illustrated by comparison of data from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment with the cloud climatologies. Ten regions of active stratocumulus convection are identified. These regions fall into four categories: subtropical marine, midlatitude marine, Arctic stratus, and Chinese stratus. With the exception of the Chinese region, all the regions with high amounts of stratus clouds are over the oceans. In all regions except the Arctic, the season of maximum stratus corresponds to the season of greatest lower-troposphere static stability. Interannual variations in stratus cloud amount also are related to changes in static stability. A linear analysis indicates that a 6 percent increase in stratus fractional area coverage is associated with each 1 C increase in static stability. Over midlatitude oceans, sky-obscuring fog is a large component of the summertime stratus amount. The amount of fog appears to be related to warm advection across sharp gradients of SST.
Document ID
19930071203
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Klein, Stephen A.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Hartmann, Dennis L.
(Washington Univ. Seattle, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Volume: 6
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0894-8755
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
93A55200
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-18157
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-30033
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2633
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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