Wednesday, 5 June 2002: 9:45 AM
Enhanced absorption of solar radiation by 3d mixed phase clouds
For several years a potential discrepancy between theoretically expected
and observationally derived solar broadband cloud absorption termed
'anomalous cloud absorption' has been discussed. The existence of
such large absorption is questionable but so is the strongly
simplified treatment of solar radiative transfer in most atmospheric
models. The present paper is exploring the potential of more realistic
3d inhomogeneous clouds to provide more absorption then their
homogeneous counterparts. A large number of fully 3d inhomogeneous clouds (3d
extinction coefficient, 3d scattering and absorption properties) with
strong variability in their mixed phase microphysical properties have
been taken into account. Solar broadband radiative fluxes have been calculated by means of a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code. While previous work was concentrated on
variable cloud extinction coefficients only, our results demonstrate
that local positive correlation between cloud extinction and
and particle size (i.e. absorptivity) leads to an enhanced absorption
exceeding 15 Wm^-2 compared to the same clouds with horizontally
averaged cloud particle scattering and absorption properties. These 3d
effects of the particle scattering and absorption properties are
strongest at small solar zenith angles and for the most inhomogeneous
convective clouds types. Averaged over all cloud realizations under
consideration, the enhanced absorption ranges from 1 Wm^-2 at 75
degree solar zenith angle to 4 Wm^-2 at 15 degree solar zenith
angle.
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