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Global, seasonal cloud variations from satellite radiance measurements. II - Cloud properties and radiative effectsCloud and surface radiative properties and their effects on the earth and surface radiation budgets are obtained based on global daily visible and IR radiance measurements. The magnitude of cloud property variations and their effects on radiation increase strongly with decreasing space/time scales. Cloud properties are systematically different between land and ocean, with ocean having larger cloud cover with somewhat larger optical thicknesses and lower cloud top altitudes. Although cloud variations appear to be the primary cause of regional radiation budget variability at 5-30 daytime scales, the effects of their seasonal variations at larger spatial scales are less important than the changes associated with changes in solar declination and atmospheric/surface temperatures. The largest seasonal variations in radiation occur in the 30-60 deg latitude band in each hemisphere. Although clouds have a net cooling effect on the global, annual mean radiation balance at both the top of the atmosphere and the surface, their net effect on regional, seasonal balances is much more varied.
Document ID
19910036060
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rossow, William B.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Lacis, Andrew A.
(NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies New York, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Volume: 3
ISSN: 0894-8755
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91A20683
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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