scholarly journals Dust radiative forcing and its impact on surface energy budget over West Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdoul Aziz Saidou Chaibou ◽  
Xiaoyan Ma ◽  
Tong Sha
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Surface Energy Budget

scholarly journals Arctic Cloud Fraction and Radiative Fluxes in Atmospheric Reanalyses

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 2316-2334 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Walsh ◽  
William L. Chapman ◽  
Diane H. Portis
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Fraction ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Japan Meteorological Agency ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Radiative Fluxes ◽  
Arctic Clouds ◽  
Cloud Radiative Forcing

Abstract Arctic radiative fluxes, cloud fraction, and cloud radiative forcing are evaluated from four currently available reanalysis models using data from the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Barrow site of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM). A primary objective of the ARM–NSA program is to provide a high-resolution dataset of direct measurements of Arctic clouds and radiation so that global climate models can better parameterize high-latitude cloud radiative processes. The four reanalysis models used in this study are the 1) NCEP–NCAR global reanalysis, 2) 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40), 3) NCEP–NCAR North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), and 4) Japan Meteorological Agency and Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry 25-yr Reanalysis (JRA25). The reanalysis models simulate the radiative fluxes well if/when the cloud fraction is simulated correctly. However, the systematic errors of climatological reanalysis cloud fractions are substantial. Cloud fraction and radiation biases show considerable scatter, both in the annual mean and over a seasonal cycle, when compared to those observed at the ARM–NSA. Large seasonal cloud fraction biases have significant impacts on the surface energy budget. Detailed comparisons of ARM and reanalysis products reveal that the persistent low-level cloud fraction in summer is particularly difficult for the reanalysis models to capture creating biases in the shortwave radiation flux that can exceed 160 W m−2. ERA-40 is the best performer in both shortwave and longwave flux seasonal representations at Barrow, largely because its simulation of the cloud coverage is the most realistic of the four reanalyses. Only two reanalyses (ERA-40 and NARR) capture the observed transition from positive to negative surface net cloud radiative forcing during a 2–3-month period in summer, while the remaining reanalyses indicate a net warming impact of Arctic clouds on the surface energy budget throughout the entire year. The authors present a variable cloud radiative forcing metric to diagnose the erroneous impact of reanalysis cloud fraction on the surface energy balance. The misrepresentations of cloud radiative forcing in some of the reanalyses are attributable to errors in both simulated cloud amounts and the models’ radiative response to partly cloudy conditions.

scholarly journals The Surface Energy Budget Computed at the Grid-Scale of a Climate Model Challenged by Station Data in West Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2710-2738 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. B. Diallo ◽  
F. Hourdin ◽  
C. Rio ◽  
A.-K. Traore ◽  
L. Mellul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Station Data

scholarly journals Sensitivity of the surface energy budget to drifting snow as simulated by MAR in coastal Adelie Land, Antarctica

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Le Toumelin ◽  
Charles Amory ◽  
Vincent Favier ◽  
Christoph Kittel ◽  
Stefan Hofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Atmosphere ◽  
Drifting Snow ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. In order to understand the evolution of the climate of Antarctica, dominant processes that control surface and low-atmosphere meteorology need to be accurately captured in climate models. We used the regional climate model MAR (v3.11) at 10 km horizontal resolution, forced by ERA5 reanalysis over a 9-year period (2010–2018), to study the impact of drifting snow (designing here the wind-driven transport of snow particles below and above 2 m) on the near-surface atmosphere and surface in Adelie Land, East Antarctica. Two model runs were performed, respectively with and without drifting snow, and compared to half-hourly in situ observations at D17, a coastal and windy location of Adelie Land. We show that sublimation of drifting-snow particles in the atmosphere drives the difference between model runs and is responsible for significant impacts on the near-surface atmosphere. By cooling the low atmosphere and increasing its relative humidity, drifting snow also reduces sensible and latent heat exchanges at the surface (−5.9 W m−2 on average). Moreover, large and dense drifting-snow layers act as near-surface cloud by interacting with incoming radiative fluxes, enhancing incoming longwave radiations and reducing incoming shortwave radiations in summer (net radiative forcing: 5.9 W m−2). Even if drifting snow modifies these processes involved in surface-atmosphere interactions, the total surface energy budget is only slightly modified by introducing drifting snow, because of compensating effects in surface energy fluxes. The drifting-snow driven effects are not prominent near the surface but peak higher in the boundary layer (fifth vertical level, 38 m) where drifting snow sublimation is the most pronounced. Accounting for drifting snow in MAR generally improves the comparison at D17, more especially for the representation of relative humidity (mean bias reduced from −11.1 % to 2.9 %) and incoming longwave radiation (mean bias reduced from −7.6 W m−2 to −1.5 W m−2). Consequently, our results suggest that a detailed representation of drifting-snow processes is required in climate models to better capture the near–surface meteorology and surface–atmosphere interactions in coastal Adelie Land.

scholarly journals A transitioning Arctic surface energy budget: the impacts of solar zenith angle, surface albedo and cloud radiative forcing

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1643-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Sedlar ◽  
Michael Tjernström ◽  
Thorsten Mauritsen ◽  
Matthew D. Shupe ◽  
Ian M. Brooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Zenith Angle ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Solar Zenith Angle ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Cloud Radiative Forcing ◽  
Arctic Surface

scholarly journals Breakup of nocturnal low-level stratiform clouds during the southern West African monsoon season

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurin Zouzoua ◽  
Fabienne Lohou ◽  
Marie Lothon ◽  
Paul Assamoi ◽  
Véronique Yoboue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Shallow Cumulus ◽  
Cloud Characteristics ◽  
Breakup Time

<p><span>During monsoon season in southern West Africa (SWA), nocturnal stratiform low-level clouds (LLSC) frequently form over a region extending from Guinean coast to several hundred kilometers inland. The cloud deck </span><span>persists at least until sunrise next day, </span><span>affecting surface-energy budget and related processes. However, LLSC lifetime is underestimated by numerical weather prediction and climate models.</span></p><p><span>The DACCIWA (Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud-Interactions-over-West-Africa) field campaign, in June-July 2016, paved the way for studying LLSC over SWA based on high-quality-observational dataset. The first analyzes of this data highlighted that the LLSC diurnal cycle consists of four main stages: the stable, jet, stratus and convective phases. Unlike the first three, the convective phase, which starts after sunrise and ends when LLSC breaks up, has not been well documented yet.</span></p><p><span>This study analyzes the LLSC evolution during stratus and convective phases, specifically addressing the LLSC transition toward other low-cloud types during sunlight hours. It is based on comprehensive dataset acquired during twenty-two precipitation-free LLSC occurrences at Savè (Benin) during the DACCIWA fiel campaign. The cloud-characteristics are deduced from ceilometer and cloud-radar measurements. The associated atmospheric conditions are provided by surface meteorological and energy balance stations, radiosoundings and an Ultra-High-Frequency wind profiler.</span></p><p><span>The LLSC forms (beginning of the stratus phase) decoupled from surface. In thirteen cases, the LLSC remains decoupled until the convective phase (case D). Conversely, in the other nine cases, the cloud gets coupled with surface before sunrise, within the four hours after cloud formation (case C). The coupling is accompanied by cloud base lowering and near-neutral thermal stability in subcloud-layer. Almost all cases C are observed during a period with well-established monsoon-flow over SWA. But, the weak differences of thermodynamical conditions between cases C and D suggest that, contributions of both mesoscale and local processes are crucial for coupling LLSC to the surface before sunrise. In early morning, the macrophysical and thermodynamical characteristics of the LLSC in case C are slightly different from the case D, suggesting that, even during night, the coupling with surface impacts the cloud characteristics.</span></p><p><span>The LLSC evolution during convective phase depends upon the coupling at initial stage. In cases C, the evolution pattern is quite similar, the cloud base rises up under solar heating and shallow cumulus form when the cloud deck breaks up, around 11:30 UTC or later. For some of cases D, the LLSC couples with surface as the convective atmospheric boundary-layer grows and reaches the cloud base. The subsequent evolution and breakup time are then similar to case C. For most of cases D, LLSC remains decoupled from surface, and shallow cumulus form at the convective mixed layer top, under the LLSC deck. In this scenario, the LLSC breakup-time mostly occurs before 11:30 UTC. Thus, the coupling between LLSC and surface is a key factor for its evolution and maintenance after sunrise. Correct simulation of this feature may improve models performance over SWA.</span> <span>The impacts of LLSC on surface-energy budget and verical development of boundary-layer are also quantified.</span></p>

scholarly journals Influence of Subfacet Heterogeneity and Material Properties on the Urban Surface Energy Budget

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 2114-2129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prathap Ramamurthy ◽  
Elie Bou-Zeid ◽  
James A. Smith ◽  
Zhihua Wang ◽  
Mary L. Baeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Role Reversal ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Urban Surface ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
Sensible Heat

AbstractUrban facets—the walls, roofs, and ground in built-up terrain—are often conceptualized as homogeneous surfaces, despite the obvious variability in the composition and material properties of the urban fabric at the subfacet scale. This study focuses on understanding the influence of this subfacet heterogeneity, and the associated influence of different material properties, on the urban surface energy budget. The Princeton Urban Canopy Model, which was developed with the ability to capture subfacet variability, is evaluated at sites of various building densities and then applied to simulate the energy exchanges of each subfacet with the atmosphere over a densely built site. The analyses show that, although all impervious built surfaces convert most of the incoming energy into sensible heat rather than latent heat, sensible heat fluxes from asphalt pavements and dark rooftops are 2 times as high as those from concrete surfaces and light-colored roofs. Another important characteristic of urban areas—the shift in the peak time of sensible heat flux in comparison with rural areas—is here shown to be mainly linked to concrete’s high heat storage capacity as well as to radiative trapping in the urban canyon. The results also illustrate that the vegetated pervious soil surfaces that dot the urban landscape play a dual role: during wet periods they redistribute much of the available energy into evaporative fluxes but when moisture stressed they behave more like an impervious surface. This role reversal, along with the direct evaporation of water stored over impervious surfaces, significantly reduces the overall Bowen ratio of the urban site after rain events.

scholarly journals Measuring the impact of a new snow model using surface energy budget process relationships

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Day ◽  
Gabriele Arduini ◽  
Irina Sandu ◽  
Linus Magnusson ◽  
Anton Beljaars ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Budget Process ◽  
Snow Model ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Projected Changes in Soil Temperature and Surface Energy Budget Components over the Alps and Northern Italy

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Cassardo ◽  
Seon Park ◽  
Sungmin O ◽  
Marco Galli
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
The Alps

This study investigates the potential changes in surface energy budget components under certain future climate conditions over the Alps and Northern Italy. The regional climate scenarios are obtained though the Regional Climate Model version 3 (RegCM3) runs, based on a reference climate (1961–1990) and the future climate (2071–2100) via the A2 and B2 scenarios. The energy budget components are calculated by employing the University of Torino model of land Processes Interaction with Atmosphere (UTOPIA), and using the RegCM3 outputs as input data. Our results depict a significant change in the energy budget components during springtime over high-mountain areas, whereas the most relevant difference over the plain areas is the increase in latent heat flux and hence, evapotranspiration during summertime. The precedence of snow-melting season over the Alps is evidenced by the earlier increase in sensible heat flux. The annual mean number of warm and cold days is evaluated by analyzing the top-layer soil temperature and shows a large increment (slight reduction) of warm (cold) days. These changes at the end of this century could influence the regional radiative properties and energy cycles and thus, exert significant impacts on human life and general infrastructures.

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