Comparing cloud radiative properties between the Eastern China and the Indian monsoon region

Abstract

Based on the data from International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), the climatic cloud properties and cloud radiative forcing in the eastern China and the Indian monsoon region are compared. Although both of the Indian monsoon region and the eastern China are included in the Asian monsoon region and the seasonal cycles of rainfall are in phase, the properties of clouds and related cloud radiative forcing are significantly different. All of cloud components in the Indian region have similar phase structure of seasonal cycle. The maximum cloud fractions occur in the summer monsoon period and high clouds dominate the total cloud fraction. However, the seasonal features of clouds in the eastern China are complex. It is the mid-low clouds rather than high clouds dominating the total cloud fraction. The maximum total cloud fraction occurs in spring season. The total cloud and mid-low cloud fractions in winter season are larger than that in summer season. A unique global distinction of clouds in the eastern China is the largest cover of nimbostratus clouds. Reflecting to the cloud properties, the maximums of negative short wave, positive long wave and negative net cloud radiative forcing in the Indian monsoon region are in the summer season. In the eastern China, large negative short wave cloud radiative forcing occurs in early summer. The annual mean negative net cloud radiative forcing in the eastern China is obviously larger than that in the Indian region.