Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Multiple Scattering Parameterization in Thermal Infrared Radiative Transfer

Qiang Fu Atmospheric Science Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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K. N. Liou Department of Meteorology/CARSS, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

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M. C. Cribb Atmospheric Science Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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T. P. Charlock NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

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A. Grossman Atmospheric Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, Livermore, California

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Print Publication:
01 Dec 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054<2799:MSPITI>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
2799–2812
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Abstract

A systematic formulation of various radiative transfer parameterizations is presented, including the absorption approximation (AA), δ-two-stream approximation (D2S), δ-four-stream approximation (D4S), and δ-two- and four-stream combination approximation (D2/4S), in a consistent manner for thermal infrared flux calculations. The D2/4S scheme uses a source function from the δ-two-stream approximation and evaluates intensities in the four-stream directions. A wide range of accuracy checks for monochromatic emissivity of a homogeneous layer and broadband heating rates and fluxes in nonhomogeneous atmospheres is performed with respect to the “exact” results computed from the δ-128-stream scheme for radiative transfer. The computer time required for the calculations using different radiative transfer parameterizations is compared. The results pertaining to the accuracy and efficiency of various radiative transfer approximations can be utilized to decide which approximate method is most appropriate for a particular application. In view of its overall high accuracy and computational economy, it is recommended that the D2/4S scheme is well suited for GCM and climate modeling applications.

Corresponding author address: Prof. Qiang Fu, Dept. of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada.

Abstract

A systematic formulation of various radiative transfer parameterizations is presented, including the absorption approximation (AA), δ-two-stream approximation (D2S), δ-four-stream approximation (D4S), and δ-two- and four-stream combination approximation (D2/4S), in a consistent manner for thermal infrared flux calculations. The D2/4S scheme uses a source function from the δ-two-stream approximation and evaluates intensities in the four-stream directions. A wide range of accuracy checks for monochromatic emissivity of a homogeneous layer and broadband heating rates and fluxes in nonhomogeneous atmospheres is performed with respect to the “exact” results computed from the δ-128-stream scheme for radiative transfer. The computer time required for the calculations using different radiative transfer parameterizations is compared. The results pertaining to the accuracy and efficiency of various radiative transfer approximations can be utilized to decide which approximate method is most appropriate for a particular application. In view of its overall high accuracy and computational economy, it is recommended that the D2/4S scheme is well suited for GCM and climate modeling applications.

Corresponding author address: Prof. Qiang Fu, Dept. of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada.

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