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 |
| Published: |
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 |
| _version_ | 1818380766328913920 |
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| author | T. Corti T. Peter |
| author_facet | T. Corti T. Peter |
| author_sort | T. Corti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:23:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b12f4b9981dd46528e3622b4d1f08e4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:23:54Z |
| publishDate | 2009-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b12f4b9981dd46528e3622b4d1f08e4e2022-12-21T23:20:26ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242009-08-0191557515758A simple model for cloud radiative forcingT. CortiT. PeterWe 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>.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5751/2009/acp-9-5751-2009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | T. Corti T. Peter A simple model for cloud radiative forcing Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | A simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| title_full | A simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| title_fullStr | A simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| title_short | A simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| title_sort | simple model for cloud radiative forcing |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/5751/2009/acp-9-5751-2009.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tcorti asimplemodelforcloudradiativeforcing AT tpeter asimplemodelforcloudradiativeforcing AT tcorti simplemodelforcloudradiativeforcing AT tpeter simplemodelforcloudradiativeforcing |