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Climate change during 1985–1999: Cloud interactions determined from satellite measurements
Author(s) -
Cess Robert D.,
Udelhofen Petra M.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2002gl016128
Subject(s) - shortwave , longwave , environmental science , cloud cover , energy budget , outgoing longwave radiation , shortwave radiation , atmosphere (unit) , satellite , atmospheric sciences , climatology , latitude , climate model , climate change , radiative transfer , meteorology , radiation , cloud computing , geology , physics , convection , oceanography , astronomy , computer science , operating system , geodesy , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
We have extended two recent studies that present evidence for significant decadal variability in the top‐of‐atmosphere (TOA) tropical radiative energy budget by combining satellite measurements of the TOA energy budget and cloud cover with measurements of the Earth's surface temperature. The domain studied is from 40°S to 40°N. As in the prior studies, which were restricted to lower latitudes, there is a significant increase in the TOA outgoing longwave radiation during the period 1985 to 1999 together with an increase in solar (shortwave) radiation absorbed by the climate system. It is suggested that these changes are related to an observed reduction in cloud cover.