Flux divergence of thermal radiation within stratiform clouds

Abstract

A longwave radiative transfer model based on the narrow‐band transmission functions of Lowtran 6 has been developed to investigate the profile of radiative flux divergence at the tops of stratiform clouds. The model has a vertical resolution of 1 m and a spectral resolution of 20 cm−1. These features are shown to permit modeling of broadband radiative transfer in the presence of a cloud top inversion and finite liquid water gradient. Radiative cooling rates in excess of 40 K hr−1 are shown to be possible for extreme conditions, with values of 10 K hr−1 being representative of more typical conditions. The values obtained are shown to be strongly influenced by the magnitude of liquid water concentration, by the gradient of liquid water in the top 50 m, and by the strength of the temperature inversion.