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A CloudSat Perspective of the Atmospheric Water Cycle and Precipitation: Recent Progress and Grand ChallengesSummary Global - mean precipitation - is controlled by Earth's energy balance and is a quantifiable consequence of the water vapor feedback. Predictability rests on the degree to which the water vapor feedback is predictable. Regional scale - to a significant extent, changes are shaped by atmospheric circulation changes but we do not know the extent to which regional scale changes are predictable. The impacts of changes to atmospheric circulation on regional scale water cycle changes can be dramatic. Process - scale - significant biases to the CHARACTER of precipitation (frequency and intensity) is related to how the precipitation process is parameterized in models. Aerosol - We still do not know the extent to which the water cycle is influenced by aerosol but anecdotal evidence is building. The character of precipitation is affected by the way aerosol influence clouds and thus affects the forcing of the climate system through the albedo effect. Observations - we still have a way to go and need to approach the problem in a more integrated way (tie clouds, aerosol and precipitation together and then link to soil moisture, etc). Globally our capabilities seriously lag behind the science and model development.
Document ID
20150005473
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Presentation
External Source(s)
Authors
Stephens, Graeme L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Im, Eastwood
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Vane, Deborah
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
April 10, 2015
Publication Date
October 29, 2012
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing 2012
Location: Kyoto
Country: Japan
Start Date: October 29, 2012
End Date: November 1, 2012
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
terrestrial water cycles
CloudSat
observational systems

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