Sensitivity of Computed Incoming Solar Radiation at the Surface to Cloud Analyses

John T. Ball The Center for the Environment and Man, Hartford, CT 06120

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Marshall A. Atwater The Center for the Environment and Man, Hartford, CT 06120

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Stephen J. Thoren The Center for the Environment and Man, Hartford, CT 06120

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Abstract

A radiation model was used to simulate daily incoming solar radiation at four ships during Phase III of GATE. The accuracy of the simulations from several different cloud analyses based on ship or satellite data was estimated by comparison with measured values. The cloud-data source, objective analysis characteristics and analysis grid interval affected the accuracy of the radiation computations.

Abstract

A radiation model was used to simulate daily incoming solar radiation at four ships during Phase III of GATE. The accuracy of the simulations from several different cloud analyses based on ship or satellite data was estimated by comparison with measured values. The cloud-data source, objective analysis characteristics and analysis grid interval affected the accuracy of the radiation computations.

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