Cloud radiative forcing variability during FIFEThe present study evaluates a set of radiative flux surface measurements, concomitant with other meteorological observations, so as to derive the cloud radiative forcing at the surface. The forcing is analyzed in terms of variability and relation to other meteorological parameters. Both SW and LW cloud forcings show a very large temporal variability due to the changing cloudiness and to measurements and computational uncertainties. No dominant correlation between either components of the cloud radiative forcing and cloudiness were found using sky camera data. This is explained by the fact that forcings are a function not only of cloudiness but also of cloud liquid water content and cloud base height. Surface cloud radiative forcing showed a rather large diurnal cycle with a minimum at local noon for the LW component and two pronounced minima at sunrise and sunset for the SW component.
Document ID
19920031311
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Breon, Francois-Marie (Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA, United States)
Frouin, Robert (Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA, United States)
Gautier, Catherine (Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA, United States)