Radiative closure assessment using A-Train satellite data for the EarthCARE mission

Abstract

The EarthCARE mission will perform continuous radiative closure assessment utilizing both 1D and 3D broadband (BB) radiative transfer (RT) models. The radiance and flux calculations from these models will be compared to observations obtained through EarthCARE's Broadband Radiometer (BBR). The inputs for the RT models will be derived from synergistic retrievals of cloud and aerosol properties, facilitated by the Clouds, Aerosol and Precipitation from Multiple Instruments using a Variational Technique (CAPTIVATE) algorithm. In preparation for the EarthCARE launch, this study involves the application of CAPTIVATE to A-Train data, with the resultant cloud, aerosol, and precipitation properties serving as inputs for the RT models. The outcomes of these models will be utilized in a radiative closure assessment, incorporating measurements from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). The analyses center on discerning differences between 1D and 3D RT calculations, as well as differences between RT calculations and measurements obtained from the CERES.