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- Author or Editor: R. Myneni x
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Abstract
Most of the existing cloud radiation models treat liquid water drops of a variety of sizes as an ensemble of particles. The ensemble approach assumes that all drop sizes are well represented in an elementary volume, and its scattering and absorbing properties can be accurately specified through the use of the drop size probability density distribution function. The concentration of large drops, however, can be so low that a chance to capture them in the elementary volume is rare. Thus the drop ensemble assumption is not always true, though classical radiative transfer theory uses this assumption to simplify the radiative transfer process, as if scattering takes place from an “average drop” rather than from a particular drop. The theoretical analysis presented in this paper demonstrates that if a cumulative distribution function is used to describe drop size variability with jumps accounting for the probability of finding large drops in the elementary volume, one obtains an extra term, the Green's function, in the solution of the radiative transfer equation. The analysis of data on cloud drop size distribution acquired during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Research Experiment (FIRE) field campaign clearly shows jumps in the cumulative drop size distribution; the magnitudes of the jumps are related to the frequencies of large drop occurrence. This discontinuity is primarily responsible for the additional terms that must be added to the solution to properly account for the photon interaction with the large drops. The enhancement of cloud absorption due to accounting for the “missing solution” exhibits a jump-like response to continuous variation in the concentration of large drops and may exceed the enhancement predicted by the ensemble-based models. The results presented here indicate that the missing term might be plausible to explain the enhanced value of the ratio of the shortwave cloud forcing at the surface to the forcing at top of the atmosphere.
Abstract
Most of the existing cloud radiation models treat liquid water drops of a variety of sizes as an ensemble of particles. The ensemble approach assumes that all drop sizes are well represented in an elementary volume, and its scattering and absorbing properties can be accurately specified through the use of the drop size probability density distribution function. The concentration of large drops, however, can be so low that a chance to capture them in the elementary volume is rare. Thus the drop ensemble assumption is not always true, though classical radiative transfer theory uses this assumption to simplify the radiative transfer process, as if scattering takes place from an “average drop” rather than from a particular drop. The theoretical analysis presented in this paper demonstrates that if a cumulative distribution function is used to describe drop size variability with jumps accounting for the probability of finding large drops in the elementary volume, one obtains an extra term, the Green's function, in the solution of the radiative transfer equation. The analysis of data on cloud drop size distribution acquired during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Research Experiment (FIRE) field campaign clearly shows jumps in the cumulative drop size distribution; the magnitudes of the jumps are related to the frequencies of large drop occurrence. This discontinuity is primarily responsible for the additional terms that must be added to the solution to properly account for the photon interaction with the large drops. The enhancement of cloud absorption due to accounting for the “missing solution” exhibits a jump-like response to continuous variation in the concentration of large drops and may exceed the enhancement predicted by the ensemble-based models. The results presented here indicate that the missing term might be plausible to explain the enhanced value of the ratio of the shortwave cloud forcing at the surface to the forcing at top of the atmosphere.
Abstract
The prevalence of clouds and aerosols and their impact on satellite-measured greenness levels of forests in southern and central Amazonia are explored in this article using 10 years of NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) greenness data: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). During the wet season (October–March), cloud contamination of greenness data is pervasive; nearly the entire region lacks uncorrupted observations. Even in the dry season (July–September), nearly 60%–66% of greenness data are corrupted, mainly because of biomass burning aerosol contamination. Under these conditions, spectrally varying residual atmospheric effects in surface reflectance data introduce artifacts into greenness indices; NDVI is known to artificially decrease, whereas EVI, given its formulation and use of blue channel surface reflectance data, shows artificial enhancement, which manifests as large patches of enhanced greenness. These issues render remote sensing of Amazon forest greenness a challenging task.
Abstract
The prevalence of clouds and aerosols and their impact on satellite-measured greenness levels of forests in southern and central Amazonia are explored in this article using 10 years of NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) greenness data: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). During the wet season (October–March), cloud contamination of greenness data is pervasive; nearly the entire region lacks uncorrupted observations. Even in the dry season (July–September), nearly 60%–66% of greenness data are corrupted, mainly because of biomass burning aerosol contamination. Under these conditions, spectrally varying residual atmospheric effects in surface reflectance data introduce artifacts into greenness indices; NDVI is known to artificially decrease, whereas EVI, given its formulation and use of blue channel surface reflectance data, shows artificial enhancement, which manifests as large patches of enhanced greenness. These issues render remote sensing of Amazon forest greenness a challenging task.
Abstract
Recent research indicates that the warming of the climate system resulting from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next century will persist for many centuries after the cessation of these emissions, principally because of the persistence of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and their attendant radiative forcing. However, it is unknown whether the responses of other components of the climate system—including those related to Greenland and Antarctic ice cover, the Atlantic thermohaline circulation, the West African monsoon, and ecosystem and human welfare—would be reversed even if atmospheric CO2 concentrations were to recover to 1990 levels. Here, using a simple set of experiments employing a current-generation numerical climate model, the authors examine the response of the physical climate system to decreasing CO2 concentrations following an initial increase. Results indicate that many characteristics of the climate system, including global temperatures, precipitation, soil moisture, and sea ice, recover as CO2 concentrations decrease. However, other components of the Earth system may still exhibit nonlinear hysteresis. In these experiments, for instance, increases in stratospheric water vapor, which initially result from increased CO2 concentrations, remain present even as CO2 concentrations recover. These results suggest that identification of additional threshold behaviors in response to human-induced global climate change should focus on subcomponents of the full Earth system, including cryosphere, biosphere, and chemistry.
Abstract
Recent research indicates that the warming of the climate system resulting from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next century will persist for many centuries after the cessation of these emissions, principally because of the persistence of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and their attendant radiative forcing. However, it is unknown whether the responses of other components of the climate system—including those related to Greenland and Antarctic ice cover, the Atlantic thermohaline circulation, the West African monsoon, and ecosystem and human welfare—would be reversed even if atmospheric CO2 concentrations were to recover to 1990 levels. Here, using a simple set of experiments employing a current-generation numerical climate model, the authors examine the response of the physical climate system to decreasing CO2 concentrations following an initial increase. Results indicate that many characteristics of the climate system, including global temperatures, precipitation, soil moisture, and sea ice, recover as CO2 concentrations decrease. However, other components of the Earth system may still exhibit nonlinear hysteresis. In these experiments, for instance, increases in stratospheric water vapor, which initially result from increased CO2 concentrations, remain present even as CO2 concentrations recover. These results suggest that identification of additional threshold behaviors in response to human-induced global climate change should focus on subcomponents of the full Earth system, including cryosphere, biosphere, and chemistry.
Abstract
The authors examine the effects of latitude and life history on the timing of relationships between satellite measures of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and ground-based measures of tree-ring width in forests at mid- and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Results indicate a correlation between NDVI and tree rings over the entire growing season for all areas analyzed. For sites south of 40°N, a correlation appears in early spring and late fall while a correlation appears during summer months north of 40°N. For conifers, the correlation appears in summer while deciduous trees show the relationship during early spring and late fall. Of these two correlations, the effect of life history seems to dominate the effect of latitude. The timing of these correlations may help clarify the relationship between climate and tree rings and the effect of canopy duration on carbon uptake by trees.
Abstract
The authors examine the effects of latitude and life history on the timing of relationships between satellite measures of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and ground-based measures of tree-ring width in forests at mid- and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Results indicate a correlation between NDVI and tree rings over the entire growing season for all areas analyzed. For sites south of 40°N, a correlation appears in early spring and late fall while a correlation appears during summer months north of 40°N. For conifers, the correlation appears in summer while deciduous trees show the relationship during early spring and late fall. Of these two correlations, the effect of life history seems to dominate the effect of latitude. The timing of these correlations may help clarify the relationship between climate and tree rings and the effect of canopy duration on carbon uptake by trees.
Abstract
Two hypotheses are tested: 1) monitoring stations (e.g., Mauna Loa) are not able to measure changes in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 that are generated by changes in terrestrial vegetation at distant locations; 2) changes in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide do not affect terrestrial vegetation at large scales under conditions that now exist in situ, by estimating statistical models of the relationship between satellite measurements of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa and Point Barrow. To go beyond simple correlations, the notion of Granger causality is used. Results indicate that the authors are able to identify locations where and months when disturbances to the terrestrial biota “Granger cause” atmospheric CO2. The authors are also able to identify locations where and months when disturbances to the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide generate changes in NDVI. Together, these results provide large-scale support for a CO2 fertilization effect and an independent empirical basis on which observations at monitoring stations can be used to test hypotheses and validate models regarding effect of the terrestrial biota on atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Abstract
Two hypotheses are tested: 1) monitoring stations (e.g., Mauna Loa) are not able to measure changes in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 that are generated by changes in terrestrial vegetation at distant locations; 2) changes in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide do not affect terrestrial vegetation at large scales under conditions that now exist in situ, by estimating statistical models of the relationship between satellite measurements of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa and Point Barrow. To go beyond simple correlations, the notion of Granger causality is used. Results indicate that the authors are able to identify locations where and months when disturbances to the terrestrial biota “Granger cause” atmospheric CO2. The authors are also able to identify locations where and months when disturbances to the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide generate changes in NDVI. Together, these results provide large-scale support for a CO2 fertilization effect and an independent empirical basis on which observations at monitoring stations can be used to test hypotheses and validate models regarding effect of the terrestrial biota on atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Abstract
Most cloud radiation models and conventional data processing techniques assume that the mean number of drops of a given radius is proportional to volume. The analysis of microphysical data on liquid water drop sizes shows that, for sufficiently small volumes, this proportionality breaks down; the number of cloud drops of a given radius is instead proportional to the volume raised to a drop size–dependent nonunit power. The coefficient of proportionality, a generalized drop concentration, is a function of the drop size. For abundant small drops the power is unity as assumed in the conventional approach. However, for rarer large drops, it falls increasingly below unity. This empirical fact leads to drop clustering, with the larger drops exhibiting a greater degree of clustering. The generalized drop concentration shows the mean number of drops per cluster, while the power characterizes the occurrence frequency of clusters. With a fixed total number of drops in a cloud, a decrease in frequency of clusters is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the generalized concentration. This initiates a competing process missed in the conventional models: an increase in the number of drops per cluster enhances the impact of rarer large drops on cloud radiation while a decrease in the frequency suppresses it. Because of the nonlinear relationship between the number of clustered drops and the volume, these two opposite tendencies do not necessarily compensate each other. The data analysis suggests that clustered drops likely have a stronger radiative impact compared to their unclustered counterpart; ignoring it results in underestimation of the contribution from large drops to cloud horizontal optical path.
Abstract
Most cloud radiation models and conventional data processing techniques assume that the mean number of drops of a given radius is proportional to volume. The analysis of microphysical data on liquid water drop sizes shows that, for sufficiently small volumes, this proportionality breaks down; the number of cloud drops of a given radius is instead proportional to the volume raised to a drop size–dependent nonunit power. The coefficient of proportionality, a generalized drop concentration, is a function of the drop size. For abundant small drops the power is unity as assumed in the conventional approach. However, for rarer large drops, it falls increasingly below unity. This empirical fact leads to drop clustering, with the larger drops exhibiting a greater degree of clustering. The generalized drop concentration shows the mean number of drops per cluster, while the power characterizes the occurrence frequency of clusters. With a fixed total number of drops in a cloud, a decrease in frequency of clusters is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the generalized concentration. This initiates a competing process missed in the conventional models: an increase in the number of drops per cluster enhances the impact of rarer large drops on cloud radiation while a decrease in the frequency suppresses it. Because of the nonlinear relationship between the number of clustered drops and the volume, these two opposite tendencies do not necessarily compensate each other. The data analysis suggests that clustered drops likely have a stronger radiative impact compared to their unclustered counterpart; ignoring it results in underestimation of the contribution from large drops to cloud horizontal optical path.
Abstract
The authors assess the ability of 18 Earth system models to simulate the land and ocean carbon cycle for the present climate. These models will be used in the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) for climate projections, and such evaluation allows identification of the strengths and weaknesses of individual coupled carbon–climate models as well as identification of systematic biases of the models. Results show that models correctly reproduce the main climatic variables controlling the spatial and temporal characteristics of the carbon cycle. The seasonal evolution of the variables under examination is well captured. However, weaknesses appear when reproducing specific fields: in particular, considering the land carbon cycle, a general overestimation of photosynthesis and leaf area index is found for most of the models, while the ocean evaluation shows that quite a few models underestimate the primary production.The authors also propose climate and carbon cycle performance metrics in order to assess whether there is a set of consistently better models for reproducing the carbon cycle. Averaged seasonal cycles and probability density functions (PDFs) calculated from model simulations are compared with the corresponding seasonal cycles and PDFs from different observed datasets. Although the metrics used in this study allow identification of some models as better or worse than the average, the ranking of this study is partially subjective because of the choice of the variables under examination and also can be sensitive to the choice of reference data. In addition, it was found that the model performances show significant regional variations.
Abstract
The authors assess the ability of 18 Earth system models to simulate the land and ocean carbon cycle for the present climate. These models will be used in the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) for climate projections, and such evaluation allows identification of the strengths and weaknesses of individual coupled carbon–climate models as well as identification of systematic biases of the models. Results show that models correctly reproduce the main climatic variables controlling the spatial and temporal characteristics of the carbon cycle. The seasonal evolution of the variables under examination is well captured. However, weaknesses appear when reproducing specific fields: in particular, considering the land carbon cycle, a general overestimation of photosynthesis and leaf area index is found for most of the models, while the ocean evaluation shows that quite a few models underestimate the primary production.The authors also propose climate and carbon cycle performance metrics in order to assess whether there is a set of consistently better models for reproducing the carbon cycle. Averaged seasonal cycles and probability density functions (PDFs) calculated from model simulations are compared with the corresponding seasonal cycles and PDFs from different observed datasets. Although the metrics used in this study allow identification of some models as better or worse than the average, the ranking of this study is partially subjective because of the choice of the variables under examination and also can be sensitive to the choice of reference data. In addition, it was found that the model performances show significant regional variations.
