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A study of cloud-generated radiative heating and its generation of available potential energy. I - Theoretical background. II - Results for a climatological zonal mean JanuaryThe effect of radiative heating and cooling by clouds on the available potential energy (APE) is theoretically discussed. It is shown that the cloud radiative contribution to the generation of APE is determined by the net cloud radiative heating and the efficiency factor, which is a function of the temperature distribution of the atmosphere. Results are presented for low and middle cloud effects for three atmospheric layers. Cloud radiative heating is found to be a single function of cloud optical thickness for all classes designed in terms of cloud top heights and optical thickness. Low clouds at low latitudes destroy APE an midclouds generate APE. A concept is developed to relate the cloud radiative heating to cloud heights and optical depths. Cloud-generated radiative heating is computed for January zonal mean conditions for low and midclouds. For both cases, the strongest influence is found in the low troposphere, with marked differences in signs and magnitudes. At extratropical latitudes, both cloud classes generate net radiative cooling. In the tropics, the effect of low cloud changes from net cooling to the net heating as the optical thickness increases, and midclouds cause net heating. A mechanism is described whereby this dependence produces a strong positive feedback effect on the development of SST anomalies in the tropical oceans.
Document ID
19890040772
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stuhlmann, R.
(Koeln, Universitaet Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany, United States)
Smith, G. L.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
December 15, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 45
ISSN: 0022-4928
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
89A28143
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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