Global distribution of instantaneous daytime radiative effects of high thin clouds observed by the cloud profiling radar

Yong-Keun Lee; Thomas J. Greenwald; Ping Yang; Steven A. Ackerman; Hung-Lung A. Huang

doi:10.1117/1.3491858

1 September 2010 Global distribution of instantaneous daytime radiative effects of high thin clouds observed by the cloud profiling radar

Yong-Keun Lee, Thomas J. Greenwald, Ping Yang, Steven A. Ackerman, Hung-Lung A. Huang

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Vol. 4, Issue 1, 043543 (September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3491858

Abstract

The instantaneous daytime geographical distribution and radiative effects of high thin clouds (optical thickness < 5) are investigated on the basis of the CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) radiative flux and cloud classification products. The regional features of the fraction and radiative effects of high thin clouds are associated with ITCZ, SPCZ and mid-latitude storm track regions. High thin clouds have positive net cloud-induced radiative effect (CRE) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and negative net CRE at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA). The magnitudes of TOA and BOA CREs depend on cloud optical thickness, cloud fraction and geographical location. The magnitude of the net CRE of high thin clouds increases at both TOA and BOA as cloud optical thickness increases. Net CRE at both TOA and BOA contributes to a positive net CRE in-atmosphere and warms the atmosphere regardless of cloud fraction. The global annual mean of the net CRE multiplied by cloud fraction is 0.49 W/m² at TOA, -0.54 W/m² at BOA and 1.03 W/m²in-atmosphere. The most radiatively effective cloud optical thickness of a high thin cloud is between 1-2 for the TOA and in-atmosphere CREs or 3-4 for the BOA CRE.

Citation Download Citation

Yong-Keun Lee, Thomas J. Greenwald, Ping Yang, Steven A. Ackerman, and Hung-Lung A. Huang "Global distribution of instantaneous daytime radiative effects of high thin clouds observed by the cloud profiling radar," Journal of Applied Remote Sensing 4(1), 043543 (1 September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3491858

Published: 1 September 2010

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available