The response of cloud tops to radiative forcingA longwave radiative transfer model was developed to study the effects on clouds of radiative loss of thermal energy from boundary layer cloud tops. Spectral properties of the drop size distributions are considered with Mie theory and LOWTRAN 6 gas transmission, which is combined with pathlength distributions from a Monte Carlo simulation, are used to obtain a 20/cm spectral resolution. Results are provided from a simulation of radiative cooling, at various wavelengths, of a 500 m thick cloud with a top at 2 km altitude. The very high values generated for the rates of cooling, of change of the liquid water content and of droplet growth rates indicate that cloud tops respond dynamically to strong thermal forcing.
Document ID
19870027812
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Alves, A. R. (Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Davies, R. (Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, United States)