Abstract
The newly available Advanced Very High Resolution (AVHRR) Polar Pathfinder (APP) data set was used to retrieve cloud amount, cloud optical depth, cloud particle phase and size, cloud temperature, surface temperature, surface broadband albedo, radiation fluxes and cloud forcing in the Arctic for the period 1982-1999. The spatial and temporal distributions of those retrieved Arctic climate parameters together with an analysis of their seasonal and interannual variability, especially surface and cloud properties are presented here. The present study indicates that the Arctic has been warming in spring, summer and autumn, the decadal rates are 1.1°C degree, 0.68°C degree and 0.70°C degree, respectively. While in winter the Arctic has been cooling at the decadal rate of -0.34°C degree. The Arctic surface broadband albedo also signals the warming trend of the Arctic at the decadal rate of -3.0% at the confidence level of 98.8% in autumn, indicating a longer melt period and later freeze-up. Results also show that the Arctic has become cloudier in spring and summer, but less cloudy in winter.
Published Version
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