Articles | Volume 24, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3093-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3093-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Influence of cloud retrieval errors due to three-dimensional radiative effects on calculations of broadband shortwave cloud radiative effect
Adeleke S. Ademakinwa
Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Zahid H. Tushar
Department of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Jianyu Zheng
Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Chenxi Wang
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Climate and Radiation Laboratory Code 613, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Sanjay Purushotham
Department of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Jianwu Wang
Department of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Kerry G. Meyer
Climate and Radiation Laboratory Code 613, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Tamas Várnai
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Climate and Radiation Laboratory Code 613, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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Many satellites measure cloud properties using reflected light from droplets, but most assume simple cloud structures, which can reduce accuracy. Using cloud simulations, we tested how these errors affect droplet number in a given volume and climate studies. We found that while they strongly affect small scales, at the larger scales used by satellites the errors mostly cancel out, meaning satellite data remain reliable for climate research.
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Short summary
Clouds play a critical role in our climate system. At present and in the near future, satellite-based remote sensing is the only means to obtain regional and global observations of cloud properties. The current satellite remote sensing algorithms are mostly based on the so-called 1D radiative transfer. This deviation from the 3D world reality can lead to large errors. In this study we investigate how this error affects our estimation of cloud radiative effects.
Clouds play a critical role in our climate system. At present and in the near future,...
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