A simple model for cloud radiative forcing
We present a simple model for the longwave and shortwave cloud radiative forcing based on the evaluation of extensive radiative transfer calculations, covering a global range of conditions. The simplicity of the model equations fosters the understanding on how clouds affect the Earth's ener...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2009-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5751/2009/acp-9-5751-2009.pdf |
| Summary: | We present a simple model for the longwave and shortwave cloud radiative forcing based on the evaluation of extensive radiative transfer calculations, covering a global range of conditions. The simplicity of the model equations fosters the understanding on how clouds affect the Earth's energy balance. In comparison with results from a comprehensive radiative transfer model, the accuracy of our parameterization is typically better than 20%. We demonstrate the usefulness of our model using the example of tropical cirrus clouds. We conclude that possible applications for the model include the convenient estimate of cloud radiative forcing for a wide range of conditions, the evaluation of the sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, and as a tool in education. An online version of the model is available at <a href="http://www.iac.ethz.ch/url/crf"target="_blank">http://www.iac.ethz.ch/url/crf</a>. |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |