A Preliminary Evaluation of Global and East Asian Cloud Radiative Effects in Reanalyses

Cloud radiative effects （CREs） at the top of the atmosphere （TOA） in three reanalysis datasets （the Eur- opean Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts In- terim Reanalysis （ERA-Interim）, the Japanese 55-yr Re- analysis Project （JRA-55）, and the Modem-Era Retro- spective Analysis for Research and Applications （MERRA）） are evaluated using recent satellite-based observations. The reanalyses can basically capture the spatial pattern of the annual mean shortwave CRE, but the global mean longwave CRE in ERA-interim and JRA55 is weaker than observed, leading to overestimations of the net CRE. Moreover, distinct CRE biases of the reanalyses occur in the Intertropical Convergence Zone （ITCZ）, coastal Pa- cific and Atlantic regions, and East Asia. Quantitative examination further indicates that the spatial correlations of CREs and TOA upward radiation fluxes with corre- sponding observations in ERA-Interim are better than in the other two reanalyses. Although MERRA has certain abilities in producing the magnitudes of global mean CREs, its performance in terms of spatial correlations in winter and summer are worse than for the other two re- analyses. The ability of JRA55 in reflecting CREs lies between the other two datasets. Compared to the global mean results, the spatial correlations of shortwave CRE in East Asia decrease and the biases of regional mean CREs increase in the three reanalyses. This implies that, cur- rently, it is still difficult to reproduce East Asian CREs based on these reanalyses. Relatively, ERA-Interim de- scribes the seasonal variation of East Asian CREs well, albeit weaker than observed. The present study also sug- gests that in-depth exploration of the ability of reanalysis data to describe aspects relating to cloud properties and rad- iation is needed usin~ more comprehensive observations.

Regional Characteristics of Cloud Radiative Effects before and after the South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset

The South China Sea summer monsoon(SCSSM)onset is characterized by rapid thermodynamical changes in the atmosphere that are critical to regional weather and climate processes.So far,few studies have focused on the changes in the associated cloud and radiative features.This study investigates spatiotemporal characteristics of topof-atmosphere(TOA)cloud radiative effects(CREs)before and after the SCSSM onset over the South China Sea(SCS)and South China(SC),based on the 2001–2016 Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System(CERES)Energy Balanced and Filled(EBAF)satellite data and ERA-Interim reanalysis data.Before the SCSSM onset,strong net CRE(NCRE)dominated by its cooling shortwave component occurs over SC,while descending motion and weak NCRE prevail over the SCS.In the SCSSM onset pentad,convection,high clouds,and longwave and shortwave CREs(LWCRE and SWCRE)abruptly increase over the southern and central SCS,and their high-value centers subsequently move northeastward and are strongly affected by the western Pacific subtropical high.The strong offset between LWCRE and SWCRE enables the NCRE intensity(TOA radiation budget)to be quite small(large)between the SCS and the western North Pacific after the SCSSM onset.In contrast,low–middle-level clouds and strong cooling SWCRE remain over SC after the SCSSM onset,but the increasing high clouds and LWCRE weaken(intensify)the regional NCRE(TOA radiation budget)intensity.These marked latitudinal differences in CREs between the SCS and SC primarily arise from their respective dominant cloud types and circulation conditions,which manifest the differences between the tropical SCSSM and subtropical East Asian monsoon processes.The results indicate that regional cloud fractions and CREs before and after the SCSSM onset are strongly modulated by quickly changed largescale circulation over the East Asian monsoon regions,and the spatiotemporal variation of CREs is a response to the monsoonal circulation adjustment to a large extent.

Observational Characteristics of Cloud Radiative Effects over Three Arid Regions in the Northern Hemisphere

Cloud–radiation processes play an important role in regional energy budgets and surface temperature changes over arid regions. Cloud radiative effects（CREs） are used to quantitatively measure the aforementioned climatic role. This study investigates the characteristics of CREs and their temporal variations over three arid regions in central Asia（CA）, East Asia（EA）, and North America（NA）, based on recent satellite datasets. Our results show that the annual mean shortwave（SW） and net CREs（SWCRE and NCRE） over the three arid regions are weaker than those in the same latitudinal zone of the Northern Hemisphere. In most cold months（November–March）, the longwave（LW）CRE is stronger than the SWCRE over the three arid regions, leading to a positive NCRE and radiative warming in the regional atmosphere–land surface system. The cold-season mean NCRE at the top of the atmosphere（TOA） averaged over EA is 4.1 W m^-2, with a positive NCRE from November to March, and the intensity and duration of the positive NCRE is larger than that over CA and NA. The CREs over the arid regions of EA exhibit remarkable annual cycles due to the influence of the monsoon in the south. The TOA LWCRE over arid regions is closely related to the high-cloud fraction, and the SWCRE relates well to the total cloud fraction. In addition, the relationship between the SWCRE and the low-cloud fraction is good over NA because of the considerable occurrence of low cloud. Further results show that the interannual variation of TOA CREs is small over the arid regions of CA and EA, but their surface LWCREs show certain decreasing trends that correspond well to their decreasing total cloud fraction. It is suggested that combined studies of more observational cloud properties and meteorological elements are needed for indepth understanding of cloud–radiation processes over arid regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

CLOUD RADIATIVE AND MICROPHYSICAL EFFECTS ON THE RELATION BETWEEN SPATIAL MEAN RAIN RATE, RAIN INTENSITY AND FRACTIONAL RAINFALL COVERAGE

Cloud radiative and microphysical effects on the relation between spatial mean rain rate, rain intensity and fractional rainfall coverage are investigated in this study by conducting and analyzing a series of two-dimensional cloud resolving model sensitivity experiments of pre-summer torrential rainfall in June 2008. The analysis of time-mean data shows that the exclusion of radiative effects of liquid clouds reduces domain mean rain rate by decreasing convective rain rate mainly through the reduced convective-rainfall area associated with the strengthened hydrometeor gain in the presence of radiative effects of ice clouds, whereas it increases domain mean rain rate by enhancing convective rain rate mainly via the intensified convective rain intensity associated with the enhanced net condensation in the absence of radiative effects of ice clouds. The removal of radiative effects of ice clouds decreases domain mean rain rate by reducing stratiform rain rate through the suppressed stratiform rain intensity related to the suppressed net condensation in the presence of radiative effects of liquid clouds, whereas it increases domain mean rain rate by strengthening convective rain rate mainly via the enhanced convective rain intensity in response to the enhanced net condensation in the absence of radiative effects of liquid clouds. The elimination of microphysical effects of ice clouds suppresses domain mean rain rate by reducing stratiform rain rate through the reduced stratiform-rainfall area associated with severely reduced hydrometeor loss.

Effects of sea surface temperature,cloud radiative and microphysical processes,and diurnal variations on rainfall in equilibrium cloud-resolving model simulations

The effects of sea surface temperature（SST）,cloud radiative and microphysical processes,and diurnal variations on rainfall statistics are documented with grid data from the two-dimensional equilibrium cloud-resolving model simulations.For a rain rate of higher than 3 mm.h 1,water vapor convergence prevails.The rainfall amount decreases with the decrease of SST from 29℃ to 27℃,the inclusion of diurnal variation of SST,or the exclusion of microphysical effects of ice clouds and radiative effects of water clouds,which are primarily associated with the decreases in water vapor convergence.However,the amount of rainfall increases with the increase of SST from 29℃ to 31℃,the exclusion of diurnal variation of solar zenith angle,and the exclusion of the radiative effects of ice clouds,which are primarily related to increases in water vapor convergence.For a rain rate of less than 3 mm.h 1,water vapor divergence prevails.Unlike rainfall statistics for rain rates of higher than 3 mm.h 1,the decrease of SST from 29℃ to 27℃ and the exclusion of radiative effects of water clouds in the presence of radiative effects of ice clouds increase the rainfall amount,which corresponds to the suppression in water vapor divergence.The exclusion of microphysical effects of ice clouds decreases the amount of rainfall,which corresponds to the enhancement in water vapor divergence.The amount of rainfall is less sensitive to the increase of SST from 29℃ to 31℃ and to the radiative effects of water clouds in the absence of the radiative effects of ice clouds.

Data-driven Estimation of Cloud Effects on Surface Irradiance at Xianghe,a Suburban Site on the North China Plain

Clouds are a dominant modulator of the energy budget.The cloud shortwave radiative effect at the surface(CRE)is closely related to the cloud macro-and micro-physical properties.Systematic observation of surface irradiance and cloud properties are needed to narrow uncertainties in CRE.In this study,1-min irradiance and Total Sky Imager measurements from 2005 to 2009 at Xianghe in North China Plain are used to estimate cloud types,evaluate cloud fraction(CF),and quantify the sensitivities of surface irradiance with respect to changes in CF whether clouds obscure the sun or not.The annual mean CF is 0.50,further noting that CF exhibits a distinct seasonal variation,with a minimum in winter(0.37)and maximum in summer(0.68).Cumulus occurs more frequently in summer(32%),which is close to the sum of the occurrence of stratus and cirrus.The annual CRE is–54.4 W m^(–2),with seasonal values ranging from^(–2)9.5 W m^(–2)in winter and–78.2 W m^(–2)in summer.When clouds do not obscure the sun,CF is a dominant factor affecting diffuse irradiance,which in turn affects global irradiance.There is a positive linear relationship between CF and CRE under sun-unobscured conditions,the mean sensitivity of CRE for each CF 0.1 increase is about 1.2 W m^(–2)[79.5°<SZA(Solar Zenith Angle)<80.5°]to 7.0 W m^(–2)(29.5°<SZA<30.5°).When clouds obscure the sun,CF affects both direct and diffuse irradiance,resulting in a non-linear relationship between CF and CRE,and the slope decreases with increasing CF.It should be noted that,although only data at Xianghe is used in this study,our results are representative of neighboring areas,including most parts of the North China Plain.

Compensating Errors in Cloud Radiative and Physical Properties over the Southern Ocean in the CMIP6 Climate Models

The Southern Ocean is covered by a large amount of clouds with high cloud albedo.However,as reported by previous climate model intercomparison projects,underestimated cloudiness and overestimated absorption of solar radiation(ASR)over the Southern Ocean lead to substantial biases in climate sensitivity.The present study revisits this long-standing issue and explores the uncertainty sources in the latest CMIP6 models.We employ 10-year satellite observations to evaluate cloud radiative effect(CRE)and cloud physical properties in five CMIP6 models that provide comprehensive output of cloud,radiation,and aerosol.The simulated longwave,shortwave,and net CRE at the top of atmosphere in CMIP6 are comparable with the CERES satellite observations.Total cloud fraction(CF)is also reasonably simulated in CMIP6,but the comparison of liquid cloud fraction(LCF)reveals marked biases in spatial pattern and seasonal variations.The discrepancies between the CMIP6 models and the MODIS satellite observations become even larger in other cloud macroand micro-physical properties,including liquid water path(LWP),cloud optical depth(COD),and cloud effective radius,as well as aerosol optical depth(AOD).However,the large underestimation of both LWP and cloud effective radius(regional means~20%and 11%,respectively)results in relatively smaller bias in COD,and the impacts of the biases in COD and LCF also cancel out with each other,leaving CRE and ASR reasonably predicted in CMIP6.An error estimation framework is employed,and the different signs of the sensitivity errors and biases from CF and LWP corroborate the notions that there are compensating errors in the modeled shortwave CRE.Further correlation analyses of the geospatial patterns reveal that CF is the most relevant factor in determining CRE in observations,while the modeled CRE is too sensitive to LWP and COD.The relationships between cloud effective radius,LWP,and COD are also analyzed to explore the possible uncertainty sources in different models.Our study calls for more rigorous calibration of detailed cloud physical properties for future climate model development and climate projection.

An evaluation of the Arctic clouds and surface radiative fluxes in CMIP6 models

To assess the performances of state-of-the-art global climate models on simulating the Arctic clouds and surface radiation balance,the 2001–2014 Arctic Basin surface radiation budget,clouds,and the cloud radiative effects(CREs)in 22 coupled model intercomparison project 6(CMIP6)models are evaluated against satellite observations.For the results from CMIP6 multi-model mean,cloud fraction(CF)peaks in autumn and is lowest in winter and spring,consistent with that from three satellite observation products(Cloud Sat-CALIPSO,CERESMODIS,and APP-x).Simulated CF also shows consistent spatial patterns with those in observations.However,almost all models overestimate the CF amount throughout the year when compared to CERES-MODIS and APP-x.On average,clouds warm the surface of the Arctic Basin mainly via the longwave(LW)radiation cloud warming effect in winter.Simulated surface energy loss of LW is less than that in CERES-EBAF observation,while the net surface shortwave(SW)flux is underestimated.The biases may result from the stronger cloud LW warming effect and SW cooling effect from the overestimated CF by the models.These two biases compensate each other,yielding similar net surface radiation flux between model output(3.0 W/m2)and CERES-EBAF observation(6.1 W/m2).During 2001–2014,significant increasing trend of spring CF is found in the multi-model mean,consistent with previous studies based on surface and satellite observations.Although most of the 22 CMIP6 models show common seasonal cycles of CF and liquid water path/ice water path(LWP/IWP),large inter-model spreads exist in the amounts of CF and LWP/IWP throughout the year,indicating the influences of different cloud parameterization schemes used in different models.Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project(CFMIP)observation simulator package(COSP)is a great tool to accurately assess the performance of climate models on simulating clouds.More intuitive and credible evaluation results can be obtained based on the COSP model output.In the future,with the release of more COSP output of CMIP6 models,it is expected that those inter-model spreads and the model-observation biases can be substantially reduced.Longer term active satellite observations are also necessary to evaluate models’cloud simulations and to further explore the role of clouds in the rapid Arctic climate changes.

Observational Diagnosis of Cloud Phase in the Winter Antarctic Atmosphere for Parameterizations in Climate Models

The cloud phase composition of cold clouds in the Antarctic atmosphere is explored using data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization （CALIOP） instruments for the period 2000-2006. We used the averaged fraction of liquid-phase clouds out of the total cloud amount at the cloud tops since the value is comparable in the two measurements. MODIS data for the winter months （June, July, and August） reveal liquid cloud fraction out of the total cloud amount significantly decreases with decreasing cloud-top temperature below 0°C. In addition, the CALIOP vertical profiles show that below the ice clouds, low-lying liquid clouds are distributed over ～20% of the area. With increasing latitude, the liquid cloud fraction decreases as a function of the local temperature. The MODIS-observed relation between the cloud-top liquid fraction and cloud-top temperature is then applied to evaluate the cloud phase parameterization in climate models, in which condensed cloud water is repartitioned between liquid water and ice on the basis of the grid point temperature. It is found that models assuming overly high cut-offs （ -40°C） for the separation of ice clouds from mixed-phase clouds may significantly underestimate the liquid cloud fraction in the winter Antarctic atmosphere. Correction of the bias in the liquid cloud fraction would serve to reduce the large uncertainty in cloud radiative effects.

Effects of Doubled Carbon Dioxide on Rainfall Responses to Radiative Processes of Water Clouds

The effects of doubled carbon dioxide on rainfall responses to radiative processes of water clouds are investigated in this study.Two groups of two-dimensional cloud-resolving model sensitivity experiments with regard to pre-summer heavy rainfall around the summer solstice and tropical rainfall around the winter solstice are conducted and their five-day averages over the model domain are analyzed.In the presence of radiative effects of ice clouds,doubled carbon dioxide changes pre-summer rainfall from the decrease associated with the enhanced atmospheric cooling to the increase associated with the enhanced infrared cooling as a result of the exclusion of radiative effects of water clouds.Doubled carbon dioxide leads to the reduction in tropical rainfall,caused by the removal of radiative effects of water clouds through the suppressed infrared cooling.In the absence of radiative effects of ice clouds,doubled carbon dioxide changes pre-summer rainfall from the increase associated with the strengthened atmospheric warming to the decrease associated with the weakened release of latent heat caused by the elimination of radiative effects of water clouds.The exclusion of radiative effects of water clouds increases tropical rainfall through the strengthened infrared cooling,which is insensitive to the change in carbon dioxide.