Abstract
The cloud radiative effect (CRE) on solar shortwave (SW) radiation is investigated over the broader Mediterranean basin, for the 24-year period from 1984 to 2007, using a deterministic spectral radiation transfer model (RTM) and quality monthly cloud data taken from the ISCCP-D2 satellite database. The model simulates the interaction of solar radiation with all relevant physical parameters, namely ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, aerosols and atmospheric molecules as well as surface reflection. The ISCCP cloud model input data include cloud cover and optical depths for low-, mid-, and high-level clouds, separately for ice and liquid water clouds. The model computes CREs at the top of atmosphere (CRETOA), within the atmosphere (CREatmab), and at the surface (effects on downwelling and absorbed solar radiation, CREsurf and CREsurfnet). The determined perturbation of regional SW radiation budget by clouds is important, undergoing significant intra-annual and inter-annual changes.
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Pyrina, M., Papadimas, C.D., Fotiadi, A., Matsoukas, C., Hatzianastassiou, N., Vardavas, I. (2013). Cloud Radiative Effects on Solar Radiation Over the Eastern Mediterranean Basin from 1984 to 2007. In: Helmis, C., Nastos, P. (eds) Advances in Meteorology, Climatology and Atmospheric Physics. Springer Atmospheric Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29172-2_98
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29172-2_98
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