scholarly journals Cloud Cover over the South Pole from Visual Observations, Satellite Retrievals, and Surface-Based Infrared Radiation Measurements

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 544-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Town ◽  
Von P. Walden ◽  
Stephen G. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
South Pole ◽  
The South ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Satellite Retrievals ◽  
Polar Day ◽  
Very High ◽  
Visual Observations

Abstract Estimates of cloud cover over the South Pole are presented from five different data sources: routine visual observations (1957–2004; Cvis), surface-based spectral infrared (IR) data (2001; CPAERI), surface-based broadband IR data (1994–2003; Cpyr), the Extended Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Polar Pathfinder (APP-x) dataset (1994–99; CAPP-x), and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) dataset (1994–2003; CISCCP). The seasonal cycle of cloud cover is found to range from 45%–50% during the short summer to a relatively constant 55%–65% during the winter. Relationships between Cpyr and 2-m temperature, 10-m wind speed and direction, and longwave radiation are investigated. It is shown that clouds warm the surface in all seasons, 0.5–1 K during summer and 3–4 K during winter. The annual longwave cloud radiative forcing is 18 W m−2 for downwelling radiation and 10 W m−2 for net radiation. The cloud cover datasets are intercompared during the time periods in which they overlap. The nighttime bias of Cvis is worse than previously suspected, by approximately −20%; CISCCP shows some skill during the polar day, while CAPP-x shows some skill at night. The polar cloud masks for the satellite data reviewed here are not yet accurate enough to reliably derive surface or cloud properties over the East Antarctic Plateau. The best surface-based source of cloud cover in terms of the combination of accuracy and length of record is determined to be Cpyr. The use of the Cpyr dataset for further tests of satellite retrievals and for tests of polar models is recommended.

scholarly journals Spectral and Broadband Longwave Downwelling Radiative Fluxes, Cloud Radiative Forcing, and Fractional Cloud Cover over the South Pole

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 4235-4252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Town ◽  
Von P. Walden ◽  
Stephen G. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
South Pole ◽  
The South ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Cloud Radiative Forcing ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Fractional Cloud ◽  
Visual Observations

Abstract Annual cycles of downwelling broadband infrared radiative flux and spectral downwelling infrared flux were determined using data collected at the South Pole during 2001. Clear-sky conditions are identified by comparing radiance ratios of observed and simulated spectra. Clear-sky fluxes are in the range of 110–125 W m−2 during summer (December–January) and 60–80 W m−2 during winter (April–September). The variability is due to day-to-day variations in temperature, strength of the surface-based temperature inversion, atmospheric humidity, and the presence of “diamond dust” (near-surface ice crystals). The persistent presence of diamond dust under clear skies during the winter is evident in monthly averages of clear-sky radiance. About two-thirds of the clear-sky flux is due to water vapor, and one-third is due to CO2, both in summer and winter. The seasonal constancy of this approximately 2:1 ratio is investigated through radiative transfer modeling. Precipitable water vapor (PWV) amounts were calculated to investigate the H2O/CO2 flux ratio. Monthly mean PWV during 2001 varied from 1.6 mm during summer to 0.4 mm during winter. Earlier published estimates of PWV at the South Pole are similar for winter, but are 50% lower for summer. Possible reasons for low earlier estimates of summertime PWV are that they are based either on inaccurate hygristor technology or on an invalid assumption that the humidity was limited by saturation with respect to ice. The average fractional cloud cover derived from the spectral infrared data is consistent with visual observations in summer. However, the wintertime average is 0.3–0.5 greater than that obtained from visual observations. The annual mean of longwave downwelling cloud radiative forcing (LDCRF) for 2001 is about 23 W m−2 with no apparent seasonal cycle. This is about half that of the global mean LDCRF; the low value is attributed to the small optical depths and low temperatures of Antarctic clouds.

Aerosol-driven droplet concentrations dominate coverage and water of oceanic low-level clouds

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6427) ◽  
pp. eaav0566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Rosenfeld ◽  
Yannian Zhu ◽  
Minghuai Wang ◽  
Youtong Zheng ◽  
Tom Goren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Climate Forcing ◽  
Present Climate ◽  
Cloud Radiative Forcing ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Aerosol Effects ◽  
Meteorological Effects

A lack of reliable estimates of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) aerosols over oceans has severely limited our ability to quantify their effects on cloud properties and extent of cooling by reflecting solar radiation—a key uncertainty in anthropogenic climate forcing. We introduce a methodology for ascribing cloud properties to CCN and isolating the aerosol effects from meteorological effects. Its application showed that for a given meteorology, CCN explains three-fourths of the variability in the radiative cooling effect of clouds, mainly through affecting shallow cloud cover and water path. This reveals a much greater sensitivity of cloud radiative forcing to CCN than previously reported, which means too much cooling if incorporated into present climate models. This suggests the existence of compensating aerosol warming effects yet to be discovered, possibly through deep clouds.

Evaluation of AATSR and TMI Satellite SST Data

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. Reynolds ◽  
Chelle L. Gentemann ◽  
Gary K. Corlett
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
High Variability ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Satellite Sst ◽  
Satellite Retrievals ◽  
Microwave Imager ◽  
Trmm Microwave Imager ◽  
Along Track ◽  
Very High

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to investigate two satellite instruments for SST: the infrared (IR) Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) and the microwave (MW) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI). Because of its dual view, AATSR has a potential for lower biases than other IR products such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), while the tropical TMI record was available for a longer period of time than the global MW instrument, the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR). The results show that the AATSR IR retrievals are good quality with biases lower than or as low as other satellite retrievals between 50°S and 50°N. Furthermore, the dual-view algorithm reduces the influence of aerosol contamination. However, the AATSR coverage is roughly half that of AVHRR. North of 50°N there appear to be biases and high variability in summer daytime retrievals, with smaller but consistent biases observed below 50°S. TMI data can significantly improve coverage offshore in regions where IR retrievals are reduced by cloud cover. However, TMI data have small-scale biases from land contamination that should be removed by modifying the land–sea mask to remove more coastal regions.

scholarly journals Comparison of Cloud Properties from Ground-Based Infrared Cloud Measurement and Visual Observations

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1171-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Liu ◽  
Xue-jin Sun ◽  
Tai-chang Gao ◽  
Shi-jun Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Cloud Amount ◽  
Systematic Difference ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Good Correspondence ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Visual Observations

Abstract Cloud properties derived from the whole-sky infrared cloud-measuring system (WSIRCMS) are analyzed in relation to measurements of visual observations and a ceilometer during the period July–August 2010 at the Chinese Meteorological Administration Yangjiang Station, Guangdong Province, China. The comparison focuses on the performance and features of the WSIRCMS as a prototype instrument for automatic cloud observations. Cloud cover derived from the WSIRCMS cloud algorithm compares quite well with cloud cover derived from visual observations. Cloud cover differences between WSIRCMS and visual observations are within ±1 octa in 70.83% and within ±2 octa in 82.44% of the cases. For cloud-base height from WSIRCMS data and Vaisala ceilometer CL51, the comparison shows a generally good correspondence in the lower and midtroposphere up to the height of about 6 km, with some systematic difference due to different detection methods. Differences between the resulting cloud-type classifications derived from the WSIRCMS and from visual observations show that cumulus and cirrus are classified with high accuracy, but that stratocumulus and altocumulus are not. Stratocumulus and altocumulus are suggested to be treated as waveform cloud for classification purposes. In addition, it is considered an intractable problem for automatic cloud-measurement instruments to do cloud classification when the cloud amount is less than 2 octa.

Expedition to the South Pole: experience of the laboratory game on polar sciences with primary schools

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Federica La Longa ◽  
Massimo Crescimbene ◽  
Lucilla Alfonsi ◽  
Claudio Cesaroni ◽  
Vincenzo Romano
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
South Pole ◽  
The South
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