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Comparison of Radiative Energy Flows in Observational Datasets and Climate ModelingThis study examines radiative flux distributions and local spread of values from three major observational datasets (CERES, ISCCP, and SRB) and compares them with results from climate modeling (CMIP3). Examinations of the spread and differences also differentiate among contributions from cloudy and clear-sky conditions. The spread among observational datasets is in large part caused by noncloud ancillary data. Average differences of at least 10Wm(exp -2) each for clear-sky downward solar, upward solar, and upward infrared fluxes at the surface demonstrate via spatial difference patterns major differences in assumptions for atmospheric aerosol, solar surface albedo and surface temperature, and/or emittance in observational datasets. At the top of the atmosphere (TOA), observational datasets are less influenced by the ancillary data errors than at the surface. Comparisons of spatial radiative flux distributions at the TOA between observations and climate modeling indicate large deficiencies in the strength and distribution of model-simulated cloud radiative effects. Differences are largest for lower-altitude clouds over low-latitude oceans. Global modeling simulates stronger cloud radiative effects (CRE) by +30Wmexp -2) over trade wind cumulus regions, yet smaller CRE by about -30Wm(exp -2) over (smaller in area) stratocumulus regions. At the surface, climate modeling simulates on average about 15Wm(exp -2) smaller radiative net flux imbalances, as if climate modeling underestimates latent heat release (and precipitation). Relative to observational datasets, simulated surface net fluxes are particularly lower over oceanic trade wind regions (where global modeling tends to overestimate the radiative impact of clouds). Still, with the uncertainty in noncloud ancillary data, observational data do not establish a reliable reference.
Document ID
20160010663
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Raschke, Ehrhard
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Meteorologie Hamburg, Germany)
Kinne, Stefan
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Meteorologie Hamburg, Germany)
Rossow, William B.
(City Coll. of the City Univ. of New York NY, United States)
Stackhouse, Paul W. Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Wild, Martin
(Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science Zurich, Switzerland)
Date Acquired
August 31, 2016
Publication Date
January 13, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Publisher: American Meteorological Society
Volume: 55
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-22811
NF1676L-23833
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS: 281945.02.20.01.48
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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