Articles | Volume 24, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13633-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13633-2024
Research article
 | 
11 Dec 2024
Research article |  | 11 Dec 2024

Can general circulation models (GCMs) represent cloud liquid water path adjustments to aerosol–cloud interactions?

Johannes Mülmenstädt, Andrew S. Ackerman, Ann M. Fridlind, Meng Huang, Po-Lun Ma, Naser Mahfouz, Susanne E. Bauer, Susannah M. Burrows, Matthew W. Christensen, Sudhakar Dipu, Andrew Gettelman, L. Ruby Leung, Florian Tornow, Johannes Quaas, Adam C. Varble, Hailong Wang, Kai Zhang, and Youtong Zheng

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Cited articles

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Short summary
Stratocumulus clouds play a large role in Earth's climate by reflecting incoming solar energy back to space. Turbulence at stratocumulus cloud top mixes in dry, warm air, which can lead to cloud dissipation. This process is challenging for coarse-resolution global models to represent. We show that global models nevertheless agree well with our process understanding. Global models also think the process is less important for the climate than other lines of evidence have led us to conclude.
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