1. Cloud Radiative Effects Associated With Daily Weather Regimes.
- Author
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Zhao, Ming
- Abstract
Using high temporal resolution satellite observations and reanalysis data, we classify daily weather into distinct regimes and quantify their associated cloud radiative effect (CRE) to better understand the roles of various weather systems in affecting Earth's top‐of‐atmosphere radiation budget. These regimes include non‐precipitation, drizzle, wet non‐storm, and storm days, which encompass atmospheric rivers (AR), tropical storms (TS), and mesoscale convection systems (MCS). We find that precipitation (wet) days account for roughly 80% (60%) of global longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) CREs due to their large frequency and high intensity in CRE. Despite being rare globally (13%), AR, TS, and MCS days together account for 32% of global LW CRE and 27% of SW CRE due to their higher intensity in LW and SW CRE. These results enhance our understanding of how various weather systems, particularly severe storms, influence Earth's radiative balance, and will help to better constrain climate models. Plain Language Summary: Using detailed satellite observations and reanalysis data, we categorize daily weather patterns into different types and measure the cloud radiative effects (CRE) associated with each type. The weather patterns we study include non‐precipitation days, drizzle, wet non‐storm days, and storm days, which include events like atmospheric rivers, tropical storms, and mesoscale convective systems. We found that precipitation days, which include both drizzle and wet days, contribute to about 80% of global longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) CRE due to their high frequency and intensity. Even though storm days are rare globally (only 13%), they collectively contribute to around 32% of global LW CRE and 27% of SW CRE because of their stronger impact on both LW and SW CRE. These findings are important for understanding how different weather systems influence the Earth's radiation balance and will help improve the accuracy of climate models. Key Points: Cloud radiative effect (CRE) associated with various daily weather regimes including atmospheric rivers (ARs), tropical storms (TSs), and mesoscale convection systems (MCSs) are derived using satellite observations and reanalysis dataPrecipitation (wet) days account for roughly 80% (60%) of global longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) CRE due to their large frequency and high intensity in CREDespite their rare occurrence, AR, TS, and MCS days together account for 32% of LW CRE and 27% of SW CRE due to their higher intensity CRE [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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