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A global radiative‐convective feedback
Author(s) -
Fowler Laura D.,
Randall David A.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1029/94gl01711
Subject(s) - radiative transfer , cloud feedback , troposphere , environmental science , convection , atmospheric sciences , cloud forcing , radiative cooling , free convective layer , cloud computing , liquid water content , cloud albedo , meteorology , cloud cover , climatology , climate sensitivity , climate model , geology , radiative forcing , physics , climate change , aerosol , oceanography , quantum mechanics , computer science , operating system
We have investigated the sensitivity of the intensity of convective activity and atmospheric radiative cooling to radiatively thick upper‐tropospheric clouds using a new version of the Colorado State University General Circulation Model. The model includes a bulk cloud microphysics scheme to predict the formation of cloud water, cloud ice, rain, and snow. The cloud optical properties are interactive and dependent upon the cloud water and cloud ice paths. We find that the formation of a persistent upper tropospheric cloud ice shield leads to decreased atmospheric radiative cooling and increased static stability. Convective activity is then strongly suppressed. In this way, upper‐tropospheric clouds act as regulators of the global hydrologic cycle, and provide a negative feedback between atmospheric radiative cooling and convective activity.