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Global, multiyear variations of optical thickness with temperature in low and cirrus clouds
Author(s) -
Tselioudis George,
Rossow William B.
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 - 10.1029/94gl02004
Subject(s) - cirrus , optical depth , international satellite cloud climatology project , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , cloud height , cloud computing , liquid water content , cloud cover , atmosphere (unit) , cloud top , cloud fraction , latitude , adiabatic process , subtropics , middle latitudes , climatology , satellite , meteorology , geology , physics , astronomy , aerosol , fishery , biology , computer science , thermodynamics , operating system
The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) dataset is used to correlate variations of cloud optical thickness and cloud temperature in today's atmosphere. The analysis focuses on low and cirrus clouds. Cold low clouds show increases in cloud optical thickness with temperature consistent with adiabatic behavior, while warm low clouds primarily show decreases in cloud optical thickness with temperature. An exception are subtropical low clouds which show a tendency for increases in optical thickness with temperature, particularly during El Niño years. High and middle latitude cirrus clouds show increases in optical thickness with temperature. In subtropical and tropical latitudes, cirrus cloud optical thicknesses show a complicated behavior that could be related to changes in the dynamical regime in which the clouds are formed.