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Cloud Condensate and Radiative Feedbacks at Midlatitudes in an Aquaplanet
Author(s) -
BodasSalcedo A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2018gl077217
Subject(s) - shortwave , middle latitudes , cloud feedback , radiative transfer , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , cloud fraction , phase (matter) , coupled model intercomparison project , cloud computing , climate model , climatology , climate change , physics , climate sensitivity , cloud cover , geology , computer science , optics , quantum mechanics , operating system , oceanography
Climate models show a robust negative feedback in the midlatitudes, coincident with an increase in cloud liquid in the mixed‐phase region of the control climate. This “mixed‐phase feedback” is normally attributed to a feedback caused by a phase change feedback (ice to liquid). Here we use an aquaplanet configuration to investigate this in more detail. We use high‐frequency instantaneous diagnostics and composite them in ascending and descending regimes. We find that a large fraction of the increase in cloud liquid water in the mixed‐phase region does not significantly contribute to the radiative feedback due to a masking effect of the ice cloud above. Using some simple arguments and approximate calculations, we estimate that about one third of the total shortwave negative radiative feedback is driven by a phase change feedback, whereas the rest of the feedback is driven by changes in ice and warm liquid clouds.