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The features of cloud overlapping in Eastern Asia and their effect on cloud radiative forcing

Science China Earth Sciences volume 56, pages 737–747 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Characteristics of cloud overlap over Eastern Asia are analyzed using a three-year dataset (2007–2009) from the cloud observing satellite CloudSat. Decorrelation depth L* cf is retrieved, which represents cloud overlap characteristics in the simulation of cloud-radiation processes in global climate models. Results show that values of L* cf in six study regions are generally within the range 0–3 km. By categorizing L* cf according to cloud amount in subregions, peak L* cf appears near subregions with cloud amount between 0.6 and 0.8. Average L* cf is 2.5 km. L* cf at higher altitudes is generally larger than at lower latitudes. Seasonal variations of L* cf are also clearly demonstrated. The sensitivity of cloud radiative forcing (CRF) to L* cf in Community Atmosphere Model 3.0 of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (CAM3/NCAR) is analyzed. The result shows that L* cf can have a big impact on simulation of CRF, especially in major monsoon regions and the Mid-Eastern Pacific, where the difference in CRF can reach 40–50 W m−2. Therefore, accurate parameterization of cloud vertical overlap structure is important to CRF simulation and its feedback to climate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Climate Studies of CMA, National Climate Center, Beijing, 100081, China

    Hua Zhang, Jie Peng & XianWen Jing

  2. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    XianWen Jing

  3. Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Jie Peng

  4. Canadian Center for Climate Modeling and Analysis, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3V6, Canada

    JiangNan Li

Authors
  1. Hua Zhang
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  2. Jie Peng
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  3. XianWen Jing
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  4. JiangNan Li
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Correspondence to Hua Zhang.

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Zhang, H., Peng, J., Jing, X. et al. The features of cloud overlapping in Eastern Asia and their effect on cloud radiative forcing. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 737–747 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4489-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4489-x

Keywords

  • cloud overlap hypothesis
  • decorrelation depth
  • CloudSat
  • stochastic cloud generator (SCG)
  • cloud radiation