Publication Abstracts

Tornow et al. 2021

Tornow, F., C. Domenech, J.N.S. Cole, N. Madenach, and J. Fischer, 2021: Changes in TOA SW fluxes over marine clouds when estimated via semi-physical angular distribution models. J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol., 38, no. 3, 669-684, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0107.1.

Top-of-atmosphere (TOA) shortwave (SW) angular distribution models (ADMs) approximate — per angular direction of an imagined upward hemisphere — the intensity of sunlight scattered back from a specific Earth-atmosphere scene. ADMs are, thus, critical when converting satellite-borne broadband radiometry into estimated radiative fluxes. This paper applies a set of newly developed ADMs with a more refined scene definition and demonstrates tenable changes in estimated fluxes compared to currently operational ADMs. Newly developed ADMs use a semi-physical framework to consider cloud-top effective radius, Re, and above-cloud water vapor, ACWV, in addition to accounting for surface wind speed and clouds' phase, fraction, and optical depth. In effect, instantaneous TOA SW fluxes for marine liquid-phase clouds had the largest flux differences (of up to 25 W/m2) for lower solar zenith angles and cloud optical depth greater than 10 due to extremes in Reor ACWV. In regions where clouds had persistently extreme levels of Re(here mostly for Re<7µm and Re>15µm) or ACWV, instantaneous fluxes estimated from Aqua, Terra, and Meteosat 8 and 9 satellites using the two ADMs differed systematically, resulting in significant deviations in daily mean fluxes (up to ±10 W/m2) and monthly mean fluxes (up to ±5 W/m2). Flux estimates using newly developed, semi-physical ADMs may contribute to a better understanding of solar fluxes over low-level clouds. It remains to be seen whether aerosol indirect effects are impacted by these updates.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{to02200w,
  author={Tornow, F. and Domenech, C. and Cole, J. N. S. and Madenach, N. and Fischer, J.},
  title={Changes in TOA SW fluxes over marine clouds when estimated via semi-physical angular distribution models},
  year={2021},
  journal={Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology},
  volume={38},
  number={3},
  pages={669--684},
  doi={10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0107.1},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - to02200w
AU  - Tornow, F.
AU  - Domenech, C.
AU  - Cole, J. N. S.
AU  - Madenach, N.
AU  - Fischer, J.
PY  - 2021
TI  - Changes in TOA SW fluxes over marine clouds when estimated via semi-physical angular distribution models
JA  - J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol.
JO  - Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
VL  - 38
IS  - 3
SP  - 669
EP  - 684
DO  - 10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0107.1
ER  -

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