GEWEX Research Articles

An Intercomparison of the Spatiotemporal Variability of Satellite- and Ground-Based Cloud Datasets Using Spectral Analysis Techniques

Abstract Because of the importance of clouds in modulating Earth’s energy budget, it is critical to understand their variability in space and time for climate and modeling studies. This study examines the consistency of the spatiotemporal variability of cloud amount (CA) and cloud-top pressure (CTP) represented by five 7-yr satellite datasets from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) cloud assessment project, and total cloud fraction observation from the Extended Edited Cloud Reports Archive (EECRA). Two spectral analysis techniques, namely combined maximum covariance analysis (CMCA) and combined principal component analysis (CPCA), are used to extract the dominant modes of variability from the combined datasets, and the resulting spatial patterns are compared in parallel. The results indicate that the datasets achieve overall excellent agreement on both seasonal and interannual scales of variability, with the correlations between the spatial patterns mostly above 0.6 and often above 0.8. For seasonal variability, the largest differences are found in the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes and near the South African coast for CA and in the Sahel region for CTP, where some differences in the phase and strength of the seasonal cycle are found. On interannual scales, global cloud variability is mostly associated with major climate modes, including El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and the Indian Ocean dipole mode (IODM), and the datasets also agree reasonably well. The good agreement across the datasets supports the conclusion that they are describing cloud variations with these climate modes.

Aerosol variability, synoptic‐scale processes, and their link to the cloud microphysics over the northeast Pacific during MAGIC

AbstractShipborne aerosol measurements collected from October 2012 to September 2013 along 36 transects between the port of Los Angeles, California (33.7°N, 118.2°), and Honolulu, Hawaii (21.3°N, 157.8°W), during the Marine ARM GPCI (Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX)‐Cloud System Study (GCSS)‐Pacific Cross‐section Intercomparison) Investigation of Clouds campaign are analyzed to determine the circulation patterns that modulate the synoptic and monthly variability of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the boundary layer. Seasonal changes in CCN are evident, with low magnitudes during autumn/winter, and high CCN during spring/summer accompanied with a characteristic westward decrease. CCN monthly evolution is consistent with satellite‐derived cloud droplet number concentration Nd from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. One‐point correlation (r) analysis between the 1000 hPa zonal wind time series over a region between 125°W and 135°W, 35°N and 45°N, and the Nd field yields a negative r (up to −0.55) over a domain that covers a zonal extent of at least 20° from the California shoreline, indicating that Nd decreases when the zonal wind intensifies. The negative r expands southwestward as the zonal wind precedes Nd by up to 3 days, suggesting a transport mechanism from the coast of North America mediated by the California low‐coastal jet, which intensifies in summer when the aerosol concentration and Nd reach a maximum. A first assessment of aerosol‐cloud interaction (ACI) is performed by combining CCN and satellite Nd values from the Fifteenth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The CCN‐Nd correlation is 0.66–0.69, and the ACI metric defined as ACI = ∂ln(Nd)/∂ln(CCN) is high at 0.9, similar to other aircraft‐based studies and substantially greater than those inferred from satellites and climate models.

Analysis of meteorological droughts for the Saskatchewan River Basin using univariate and bivariate approaches

This study is focused on the Saskatchewan River Basin (SRB) that spans southern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the three Prairie Provinces of Canada, where most of the country’s agricultural activities are concentrated. The SRB is confronted with immense water-related challenges and is now one of the ten GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) Regional Hydroclimate Projects in the world. In the past, various multi-year droughts have been observed in this part of Canada that impacted agriculture, energy and socio-economic sectors. Therefore, proper understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of historical droughts is important for many water resources planning and management related activities across the basin. In the study, observed gridded data of daily precipitation and temperature and conventional univariate and copula-based bivariate frequency analyses are used to characterize drought events in terms of drought severity and duration on the basis of two drought indices, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Within the framework of univariate and bivariate analyses, drought risk indicators are developed and mapped across the SRB to delineate the most vulnerable parts of the basin. Based on the results obtained, southern parts of the SRB (i.e., western part of the South Saskatchewan River, Seven Persons Creek and Bigstick Lake watersheds) are associated with a higher drought risk, while moderate risk is noted for the North Saskatchewan River (except its eastern parts), Red Deer River, Oldman River, Bow River, Sounding Creek, Carrot River and Battle River watersheds. Lower drought risk is found for the areas surrounding the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border (particularly, the Saskatchewan River watershed). It is also found that the areas characterized with higher drought severity are also associated with higher drought duration. A comparison of SPI- and SPEI-based analyses suggests only little effect of considering temperature, in the form of evapotranspiration, on identifying drought vulnerable areas. It is expected that the findings of the study will be helpful in the management and efficient utilization of the water resources of this important river basin in Canada.

Large-Eddy Simulation of Stratified Turbulence. Part II: Application of the Stretched-Vortex Model to the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Abstract The buoyancy-adjusted stretched-vortex subgrid-scale (SGS) model is assessed for a number of large-eddy simulations (LESs) corresponding to diverse atmospheric boundary layer conditions. The cases considered are free convection, a moderately stable boundary layer [first Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS)] case, shallow cumulus [Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX)], shallow precipitating cumulus [Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO)] and nocturnal stratocumulus [Second Dynamics and Chemistry of the Marine Stratocumulus (DYCOMS-II) field study RF01]. An identical LES setup, including advection discretization and SGS model parameters, is used for all cases, which is a stringent test on the ability of LES to accurately capture diverse conditions without any flow-adjustable parameters. The LES predictions agree well with observations and previously reported model results. A grid-resolution convergence study is carried out, and for all cases the mean profiles exhibit good grid-resolution independence, even for resolutions that are typically considered coarse. Second-order statistics, for example, variances, converge at finer resolutions compared to domain means. The simulations show that 90% of the turbulent kinetic energy (at each level) must be resolved to obtain sufficiently converged mean profiles. This empirical convergence criterion can be used as a guide in designing future LES runs.

Climatology of free-tropospheric humidity: extension into the SEVIRI era, evaluation and exemplary analysis

Abstract. A new free-tropospheric humidity (FTH) data record is presented. It is based on observations from the Meteosat Visible and Infrared Imager (MVIRI) onboard Meteosat-2–Meteosat-5, as well as Meteosat-7, and the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) onboard Meteosat-8 and Meteosat-9 at the water absorption band near 6.3 μm. The data set is available under clear-sky and low-level cloud conditions. With the extension to SEVIRI observations, the data record covers the period 1983–2009 with a spatial resolution of 0.625° × 0.625° and a temporal resolution of 3 h. The FTH is the mean relative humidity (RH) in a broad layer in the free troposphere. The relation between the observed brightness temperature (BT) and the FTH is well established. Previous retrievals are refined by taking into account the relative humidity Jacobians in the training process of the statistical retrieval. The temporal coverage is extended into the SEVIRI period, the homogenization of the BT record is improved, and the full archive is reprocessed using updated regression coefficients. The FTH estimated from the Meteosat observations is compared to the FTH computed from the RH profiles of the Analyzed RadioSoundings Archive (ARSA). An average relative bias of −3.2% and a relative root-mean-square difference (RMSD) of 16.8% are observed. This relative RMSD agrees with the outcome of an analysis of the total uncertainty of the FTH product. The decadal stability of the FTH data record is 0.5 ± 0.45% per decade. As exemplary applications, the interannual standard deviation, the differences on decadal scales, and the linear trend in the FTH data record and in the frequency of occurrence of FTH < 10% (FTHp10) are analyzed per season. Interannual standard deviation maxima and maxima in absolute decadal differences are featured in gradient areas between dry and wet regions, as well as in areas where FTH reaches minima and FTHp10 reaches maxima. An analysis of the FTH linear trends and of the associated uncertainty estimates is achieved to identify possible problems with the data record. Positive trends in FTHp10 are featured in gradient areas between wet and dry regions, in regions where the FTH is minimum, in regions where FTHp10 is maximum, and in regions where differences between FTHp10 averaged over the 2000s and 1990s are negative. However, these positive trends in FTHp10 are associated with maximum standard deviation and are thus hardly significant. This analysis and intercomparisons with other humidity data records are part of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Water Vapor Assessment (G-VAP).

Vertical velocity in shallow convection for different plume types

AbstractThis study investigates the bulk budgets of the vertical velocity and its parameterization in convective cores, convective updrafts, and clouds by using large‐eddy simulation (LES) of four shallow convection cases in the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study (GCSS) programs. The relative magnitudes of the dominant momentum budget terms for the three types of plumes are presented. For all shallow cumulus except stratocumulus, the buoyancy force and the subplume transport in the core plume are the momentum source that offset the pressure gradient force. In the cloud updraft and cloud plumes, the buoyancy source is dominant in the lower and middle parts of the clouds, while the subgrid transport is a dominant source in the upper part, and the entrainment term is also a momentum source. For the stratocumulus, the subplume transport is a sink almost in the whole convective layer. For all types of plumes, the Simpson and Wiggert (1969) equation is found to be good paramaterization of the mean plume vertical velocity when appropriate scaling coefficients to buoyancy and entrainment terms are used. Optimal forms of the Simpson and Wiggert equation are given for convective cores, convective updrafts, and convective clouds. Results are compared with other studies published in the literature.

Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layers and Diurnal Cycles: Challenges for Weather and Climate Models

The representation of the atmospheric boundary layer is an important part of weather and climate models and impacts many applications such as air quality and wind energy. Over the years, the performance in modeling 2-m temperature and 10-m wind speed has improved but errors are still significant. This is in particular the case under clear skies and low wind speed conditions at night as well as during winter in stably stratified conditions over land and ice. In this paper, the authors review these issues and provide an overview of the current understanding and model performance. Results from weather forecast and climate models are used to illustrate the state of the art as well as findings and recommendations from three intercomparison studies held within the Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS). Within GABLS, the focus has been on the examination of the representation of the stable boundary layer and the diurnal cycle over land in clear-sky conditions. For this purpose, single-column versions of weather and climate models have been compared with observations, research models, and large-eddy simulations. The intercomparison cases are based on observations taken in the Arctic, Kansas, and Cabauw in the Netherlands. From these studies, we find that even for the noncloudy boundary layer important parameterization challenges remain.

A Revised Conceptual Model of the Tropical Marine Boundary Layer. Part I: Statistical Characterization of the Variability Inherent in the Wintertime Trade Wind Regime over the Western Tropical Atlantic

Abstract This paper investigates wintertime tropical marine boundary layer (TMBL) statistical characteristics over the western North Atlantic using the complete set of island-launched soundings from the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) experiment. The soundings are subdivided into undisturbed and disturbed classifications using two discriminators: 1) dates chosen by Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Studies (GCSS) investigators to construct the mean RICO sounding and 2) daily average rain rates. A wide range of relative humidity (RH) values was observed between the surface and 8.0 km. At 2.0 km, half the RH values were within 56%–89%; at 4.0 km, half were within 13%–61%. The rain-rate method of separating disturbed and undisturbed soundings appears more meaningful than the GCSS method. The median RH for disturbed conditions using the rain-rate method showed moister conditions from the surface to 8.0 km, with maximum RH differences of 30%–40%. Moist air generally extended higher on disturbed than undisturbed days. Based on equivalent potential temperature, wind direction, and RH analyses, the most common altitude marking the TMBL top was about 4.0 km. Temperature inversions (over both 50- and 350-m intervals) were observed at every altitude above 1.2 km; there were no dominant inversion heights and most of the inversions were weak. Wind direction analyses indicated that winds within the TMBL originated from more tropical latitudes on disturbed days. The analyses herein suggest that the RICO profile used to initialize many model simulations of this environment represents only a small subset of the broad range of possible conditions characterizing the wintertime trades.

Assessment of Global Cloud Datasets from Satellites: Project and Database Initiated by the GEWEX Radiation Panel

Clouds cover about 70% of Earth's surface and play a dominant role in the energy and water cycle of our planet. Only satellite observations provide a continuous survey of the state of the atmosphere over the entire globe and across the wide range of spatial and temporal scales that compose weather and climate variability. Satellite cloud data records now exceed more than 25 years; however, climate data records must be compiled from different satellite datasets and can exhibit systematic biases. Questions therefore arise as to the accuracy and limitations of the various sensors and retrieval methods. The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud Assessment, initiated in 2005 by the GEWEX Radiation Panel (GEWEX Data and Assessment Panel since 2011), provides the first coordinated intercomparison of publicly available, standard global cloud products (gridded monthly statistics) retrieved from measurements of multispectral imagers (some with multiangle view and polarization capabilities), IR sounders, and lidar. Cloud properties under study include cloud amount, cloud height (in terms of pressure, temperature, or altitude), cloud thermodynamic phase, and cloud radiative and bulk microphysical properties (optical depth or emissivity, effective particle radius, and water path). Differences in average cloud properties, especially in the amount of high-level clouds, are mostly explained by the inherent instrument measurement capability for detecting and/or identifying optically thin cirrus, especially when overlying low-level clouds. The study of long-term variations with these datasets requires consideration of many factors. The monthly gridded database presented here facilitates further assessments, climate studies, and the evaluation of climate models.

Multi‐Stage Inversion Method to Retrieve Soil Moisture from Passive Microwave Measurements over the Mackenzie River Basin

An approach is proposed to estimate soil moisture from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E) 6.9 GHz passive microwave observations. The approach was evaluated over two watersheds in the Mackenzie River Basin in northwestern Canada as a contribution to the Canadian Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) study and the Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS). Based on the sensitivity of the emitted microwave signal to soil roughness and vegetation parameters, a two‐stage method was applied to calibrate a microwave radiative transfer model. Roughness parameters were determined using observations taken under dry conditions. Vegetation parameters were determined using observations taken under wet conditions. Obtained soil roughness and vegetation parameters were then integrated in the radiative transfer model to retrieve soil moisture. The performances of the proposed approach were evaluated against in situ observations, estimates from the NASA soil moisture product (AMSR‐E), model‐based soil moisture estimates from the NARR and gauge‐based precipitation observations. The lowest RMSE of 0.0254 g/cm3 was obtained between the retrieved soil moisture and in situ soil moisture. But, the RMSE between the NARR estimates and in situ soil moisture was 0.055 g/cm3 and between the NASA AMSR‐E product and in situ observation was 0.072 g/cm3. This implies that the proposed approach led to an improvement of 55% and 72% in the obtained RMSE over NARR and NASA AMSR‐E soil moisture, respectively. It is noteworthy that the proposed approach is expandable to larger watersheds and very appropriate for remote regions like the Mackenzie River Basin where information on roughness and vegetation are scarce.

Derivation of Turbulent Kinetic Energy from a First-Order Nonlocal Planetary Boundary Layer Parameterization

Abstract Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is derived from a first-order planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization for convective boundary layers: the nonlocal K-profile Yonsei University (YSU) PBL. A parameterization for the TKE equation is developed to calculate TKE based on meteorological profiles given by the YSU PBL model. For this purpose buoyancy- and shear-generation terms are formulated consistently with the YSU scheme—that is, the combination of local, nonlocal, and explicit entrainment fluxes. The vertical transport term is also formulated in a similar fashion. A length scale consistent with the K profile is suggested for parameterization of dissipation. Single-column model (SCM) simulations are conducted for a period in the second Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS2) intercomparison case. Results from the SCM simulations are compared with large-eddy simulation (LES) results. The daytime evolution of the vertical structure of TKE matches well with mixed-layer development. The TKE profile is shaped like a typical vertical velocity (w) variance, and its maximum is comparable to that from the LES. By varying the dissipation length from −23% to +13% the TKE maximum is changed from about −15% to +7%. After normalization, the change does not exceed the variability among previous studies. The location of TKE maximum is too low without the effects of the nonlocal TKE transport.

Turbulence and Vertical Fluxes in the Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Part I: A Large-Eddy Simulation Study

Abstract This study seeks to quantitatively and qualitatively understand how stability affects transport in the continuously turbulent stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer, based on a suite of large-eddy simulations. The test cases are based on the one adopted by the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS) project, but with a largely expanded stability range where the gradient Richardson number (Rig) reaches up to around 1. The analysis is mainly focused on understanding the modification of turbulent structures and dynamics with increasing stability in order to improve the modeling of the stable atmospheric boundary layer in weather and climate models, a topic addressed in Part II of this work. It is found that at quasi equilibrium, an increase in stability results in stronger vertical gradients of the mean temperature, a lowered low-level jet, a decrease in vertical momentum transport, an increase in vertical buoyancy flux, and a shallower boundary layer. Analysis of coherent turbulent structures using two-point autocorrelation reveals that the autocorrelation of the streamwise velocity is horizontally anisotropic while the autocorrelation of the vertical velocity is relatively isotropic in the horizontal plane and its integral length scale decreases as stability increases. The effects of stability on the overall turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and its budget terms are also investigated, and it is shown that the authors' large-eddy simulation results are in good agreement with previous experimental findings across varied stabilities. Finally, Nieuwstadt's local-scaling theory is reexamined and it is concluded that the height z is not a relevant scaling parameter and should be replaced by a constant length scale away from the surface, indicating that the z-less range starts lower than previously assumed.

Latent Heat Flux and Canopy Conductance Based on Penman–Monteith, Priestley–Taylor Equation, and Bouchet’s Complementary Hypothesis

AbstractA novel method is presented to analytically resolve the terrestrial latent heat flux (λE) and conductances (boundary layer gB and surface gS) using net radiation (RN), ground heat flux (G), air temperature (Ta), and relative humidity (RH). This method consists of set of equations where the two unknown internal state variables (gB and gS) were expressed in terms of the known core variables, combining diffusion equations, the Penman–Monteith equation, the Priestley–Taylor equation, and Bouchet’s complementary hypothesis. Estimated λE is validated with the independent eddy covariance λE observations over Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX-02); the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) selected sites from FLUXNET and tropics eddy flux, representing four climate zones (tropics, subtropics, temperate, and cold); and multiple biomes. The authors find a RMSE of 23.8–54.6 W m−2 for hourly λE over SMEX-02 and GCIP and 23.8–29.0 W m−2 for monthly λE over the FLUXNET and tropics. Observational and modeled evidence in the reduction in annual evaporation (E) pattern on the order of 33% from 1999 to 2006 was found in central Amazonia. Retrieved gS responded to vapor pressure deficit, measured λE, and gross photosynthesis in a theoretically robust behavior. However, the current scheme [Penman–Monteith–Bouchet–Lhomme (PMBL)] showed some overestimation of λE in limited soil moisture regimes. PMBL provides similar results when compared with another Priestley–Taylor–based λE estimation approach [Priestley–Taylor–Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL)] but with the advantage of having the conductances analytically recovered.

Challenges and Opportunities in Water Cycle Research: WCRP Contributions

The state of knowledge and outstanding challenges and opportunities in global water cycle observations, research and modeling are briefly reviewed to set the stage for the reasons behind the new thrusts promoted by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) as Grand Challenges to be addressed on a 5- to 10-year time frame. Those focused on water are led by the GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) project. A number of GEWEX science questions are being brought forward within GEWEX and the WCRP under guidance of the Joint Scientific Committee. Here, we describe what are some imperatives and opportunities for major advancements in observations, understanding, modeling and product development for water resources and climate that will enable a wide range of climate services and inform decisions on water resources management and practices.

Parameterization of the Vertical Velocity Equation for Shallow Cumulus Clouds

AbstractThe application of a steady-state vertical velocity equation for parameterized moist convective updrafts in climate and weather prediction models is currently common practice. This equation usually contains an advection, a buoyancy, and a lateral entrainment term, whereas the effects of pressure gradient and subplume contributions are typically incorporated as proportionality constants a and b for the buoyancy and the entrainment terms, respectively. A summary of proposed values of these proportionality constants a and b in the literature demonstrates that there is a large uncertainty in their most appropriate values. To shed new light on this situation an analysis is presented of the full vertical budget equation for shallow cumulus clouds obtained from large eddy simulations of three different Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study (GCSS) intercomparison cases. It is found that the pressure gradient term is the dominant sink term in the vertical velocity budget, whereas the entrainment term only gives a small contribution. This result is at odds with the parameterized vertical velocity equation in the literature as it employs the entrainment term as the major sink term. As a practical solution the damping effect of the pressure term may be parameterized in terms of the lateral entrainment rates as used for thermodynamic quantities like the total specific humidity. By using a least squares method, case-dependent optimal values are obtained for the proportionality constants a and b, which are linearly related with each other. This relation can be explained from a linear relationship between the lateral entrainment rate and the buoyancy.

Assessment of gridded observations used for climate model validation in the Mediterranean region: the HyMeX and MED-CORDEX framework

This letter assesses the quality of temperature and rainfall daily retrievals of the European Climate Assessment and Dataset (ECA&D) with respect to measurements collected locally in various parts of the Euro-Mediterranean region in the framework of the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX), endorsed by the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP). The ECA&D, among other gridded datasets, is very often used as a reference for model calibration and evaluation. This is for instance the case in the context of the WCRP Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) and its Mediterranean declination MED-CORDEX. This letter quantifies ECA&D dataset uncertainties associated with temperature and precipitation intra-seasonal variability, seasonal distribution and extremes. Our motivation is to help the interpretation of the results when validating or calibrating downscaling models by the ECA&D dataset in the context of regional climate research in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The Izaña BSRN station

The BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) is a project of the Radiation Panel from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) under the umbrella of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Since March 2009 the Izana Atmospheric Observatory belongs to the BSRN network. The Izana Observatory is a Global Atmospheric Watch station. It is a high mountain station, located at Tenerife Island (2.367 m. above sea level). The measurements recorded in this station are sent on a monthly basic to the BSRN database are: global, direct, diffuse, longwave downward, net, UV-A, UV-B radiation and the data obtained with rawinsondes launched daily from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife station, located 30 km from the Izana station. In this work we focused on the study of the global, direct and diffuse radiation measurements, performed at the Izana Observatory during 2009. The results show a high quality of BSRN measurements. Although Izana is a high mountain station there are 357 days with valid measurements for 2009. A 99% of the measurements are within the limits recommended by the BSRN. Furthermore there is a very good agreement between the measurements and the simulated values with the radiative transfer model LibRadtran using a sample set of 129 days with cloud free sky conditions. The daily values of the global and direct radiation show a RMSE lower than 2%, while the diffuse radiation shows a RMSE of about 10%.

Remote sensing of solar surface radiation for climate monitoring — the CM-SAF retrieval in international comparison

Solar surface irradiance (SIS) and direct (SID) irradiance as well as effective cloud albedo (CAL) climate data records (CDR) derived from the Meteosat first generation satellites (Meteosats 2 to 7, 1983–2005) are presented. The CDRs are available free of charge for all purposes from wui.cmsaf.eu at monthly, daily and hourly means at a spatial resolution of 0.03∘.The processing employed a climate version of the Heliosat algorithm combined with a clear sky model using an eigenvector look-up table method. Modifications to the Heliosat method include a self-calibration algorithm as well as a running mean based clear sky retrieval algorithm.The datasets are validated using ground based observations from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) as a reference. The validation threshold for the mean absolute bias between satellite-derived and surface-measured radiation is given by the target accuracy for solar irradiance fields defined by the Global Climate Observing system (GCOS) and a measurement uncertainty for the surface data. The results demonstrate that the target accuracy is achieved for monthly and daily means. Furthermore, an intercomparison with similar datasets reveal a better performance and climate monitoring potential of the CM SAF SIS CDR at most BSRN sites compared to established data sets like e.g. ERA-reanalysis, GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment) and ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project). Lastly, the realistic representation of both seasonal and inter-annual variability guarantees the applicability of the satellite-based climate data sets for climate monitoring and analysis of extremes.No trends in the normalized bias between the CM SAF and the BSRN datasets are detectable, which demonstrates the stability and homogeneity of the global and direct irradiance for the period covered by BSRN measurements. However, inconsistencies are detectable at few satellite transition dates for certain regions in earlier years.

Annual Cycle of Surface Longwave Radiation

AbstractThe annual cycles of upward and downward longwave fluxes at the earth’s surface are investigated by use of the NASA Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget Dataset. Principal component analysis is used to quantify the annual cycles. Because of the immense difference between the heat capacity of land and ocean, the surface of the earth is partitioned into these two categories. Over land, the first principal component describes over 95% of the variance of the annual cycle of the upward and downward longwave fluxes. Over ocean the first term describes more than 87% of these annual cycles. Empirical orthogonal functions show the corresponding geographical distributions of these cycles. Phase-plane diagrams of the annual cycles of upward longwave fluxes as a function of net shortwave flux show the thermal inertia of land and ocean.

Evaluation of the Diurnal Cycle in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Land as Represented by a Variety of Single-Column Models: The Second GABLS Experiment

We present the main results from the second model intercomparison within the GEWEX (Global Energy and Water cycle EXperiment) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS). The target is to examine the diurnal cycle over land in today’s numerical weather prediction and climate models for operational and research purposes. The set-up of the case is based on observations taken during the Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study-1999 (CASES-99), which was held in Kansas, USA in the early autumn with a strong diurnal cycle with no clouds present. The models are forced with a constant geostrophic wind, prescribed surface temperature and large-scale divergence. Results from 30 different model simulations and one large-eddy simulation (LES) are analyzed and compared with observations. Even though the surface temperature is prescribed, the models give variable near-surface air temperatures. This, in turn, gives rise to differences in low-level stability affecting the turbulence and the turbulent heat fluxes. The increase in modelled upward sensible heat flux during the morning transition is typically too weak and the growth of the convective boundary layer before noon is too slow. This is related to weak modelled near-surface winds during the morning hours. The agreement between the models, the LES and observations is the best during the late afternoon. From this intercomparison study, we find that modelling the diurnal cycle is still a big challenge. For the convective part of the diurnal cycle, some of the first-order schemes perform somewhat better while the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) schemes tend to be slightly better during nighttime conditions. Finer vertical resolution tends to improve results to some extent, but is certainly not the solution to all the deficiencies identified.