Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Systematic Changes in Cloud Radiative Forcing with Aerosol Loading for Deep Clouds in the Tropics

Jie Peng State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, and Shanghai Institute of Meteorological Science, Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, Shanghai, China

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Zhanqing Li Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland, and State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

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Hua Zhang Laboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China

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Jianjun Liu Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland, and State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

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Maureen Cribb Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland

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Print Publication:
01 Jan 2016
Collections:
Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Climate Interaction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-15-0080.1
Page(s):
231–249
Restricted access

Abstract

It has been widely recognized that aerosols can modify cloud properties, but it remains uncertain how much the changes and associated variations in cloud radiative forcing are related to aerosol loading. Using 4 yr of A-Train satellite products generated from CloudSat, the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations satellite, and the Aqua satellite, the authors investigated the systematic changes of deep cloud properties and cloud radiative forcing (CRF) with respect to changes in aerosol loading over the entire tropics. Distinct correlations between CRF and aerosol loading were found. Systematic variations in both shortwave and longwave CRF with increasing aerosol index over oceans and aerosol optical depth over land for mixed-phase clouds were identified, but little change was seen in liquid clouds. The systematic changes are consistent with the microphysical effect and the aerosol invigoration effect. Although this study cannot fully exclude the influence of other factors, attempts were made to explore various possibilities to the extent that observation data available can offer. Assuming that the systematic dependence originates from aerosol effects, changes in CRF with respect to aerosol loading were examined using satellite retrievals. Mean changes in shortwave and longwave CRF from very clean to polluted conditions ranged from −192.84 to −296.63 W m−2 and from 18.95 to 46.12 W m−2 over land, respectively, and from −156.12 to −170.30 W m−2 and from 6.76 to 11.67 W m−2 over oceans, respectively.

Corresponding author address: Prof. Zhanqing Li, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, 5825 University Research Court, Suite 4001, College Park, MD 20740-3823. E-mail: zli@atmos.umd.edu

This article is included in the Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Climate Interaction Special Collection.

Abstract

It has been widely recognized that aerosols can modify cloud properties, but it remains uncertain how much the changes and associated variations in cloud radiative forcing are related to aerosol loading. Using 4 yr of A-Train satellite products generated from CloudSat, the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations satellite, and the Aqua satellite, the authors investigated the systematic changes of deep cloud properties and cloud radiative forcing (CRF) with respect to changes in aerosol loading over the entire tropics. Distinct correlations between CRF and aerosol loading were found. Systematic variations in both shortwave and longwave CRF with increasing aerosol index over oceans and aerosol optical depth over land for mixed-phase clouds were identified, but little change was seen in liquid clouds. The systematic changes are consistent with the microphysical effect and the aerosol invigoration effect. Although this study cannot fully exclude the influence of other factors, attempts were made to explore various possibilities to the extent that observation data available can offer. Assuming that the systematic dependence originates from aerosol effects, changes in CRF with respect to aerosol loading were examined using satellite retrievals. Mean changes in shortwave and longwave CRF from very clean to polluted conditions ranged from −192.84 to −296.63 W m−2 and from 18.95 to 46.12 W m−2 over land, respectively, and from −156.12 to −170.30 W m−2 and from 6.76 to 11.67 W m−2 over oceans, respectively.

Corresponding author address: Prof. Zhanqing Li, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, 5825 University Research Court, Suite 4001, College Park, MD 20740-3823. E-mail: zli@atmos.umd.edu

This article is included in the Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Climate Interaction Special Collection.

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