Open AccessA global signature of enhanced shortwave absorption by clouds
Author(s) -
Collins William D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1998jd200022
Subject(s) - shortwave , cloud albedo , middle latitudes , environmental science , albedo (alchemy) , atmospheric sciences , satellite , shortwave radiation , radiative transfer , climatology , atmosphere (unit) , international satellite cloud climatology project , absorption (acoustics) , atmospheric radiative transfer codes , cloud fraction , cloud cover , cloud computing , meteorology , radiation , geology , physics , astronomy , art , quantum mechanics , performance art , computer science , acoustics , art history , operating system
Satellite observations of visible and near‐infrared radiation reflected by the ocean and atmosphere are compared to fluxes calculated with a general circulation model. The satellite data and model simulation are global and extend from 1979 to 1987. Under clear‐sky conditions, the observed and modeled spectral albedos are nearly identical. The observations and simulations diverge with increasing cloud albedo and cloud amount, regardless of cloud type or cloud phase. The differences between the model and the satellite data occur for all tropical and midlatitude ocean regions and exhibit minimal seasonal and interannual variability. These results are consistent with enhanced absorption of shortwave radiation by clouds relative to models of radiative transfer.