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Effect of subgrid cloud‐radiation interaction on climate simulations
Author(s) -
Wu Xiaoqing,
Liang XinZhong
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2005gl024432
Subject(s) - cloud computing , climate model , environmental science , radiative transfer , cloud feedback , cloud forcing , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , radiation , troposphere , liquid water path , cloud cover , climatology , climate change , physics , climate sensitivity , precipitation , computer science , geology , oceanography , quantum mechanics , operating system
The mosaic representation of subgrid cloud‐radiation interaction is implemented in the radiation scheme of the NCAR Community Climate Model version 3 (CCM3) to investigate its impacts on global climate simulations. It is found that the CCM3 with the modified radiation scheme enables the use of more realistic cloud amounts as well as cloud water contents while producing net radiative fluxes closer to observations. The improved vertical distribution of cloud water path based on the cloud‐resolving model (CRM) simulations increases the radiative heating in the upper troposphere over the tropics, which reduces the long‐standing cold bias in the temperature field. Consequently, not only the representation of cloud‐radiation interactions is more physically consistent and accurate, but also the climate simulations are significantly affected and improved.