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Correlated k-distribution method for radiative transfer in climate models: Application to effect of cirrus clouds on climateA radiative transfer method appropriate for use in simple climate models and three dimensional global climate models was developed. It is fully interactive with climate changes, such as in the temperature-pressure profile, cloud distribution, and atmospheric composition, and it is accurate throughout the troposphere and stratosphere. The vertical inhomogeneity of the atmosphere is accounted for by assuming a correlation of gaseous k-distributions of different pressures and temperatures. Line-by-line calculations are made to demonstrate that The method is remarkably accurate. The method is then used in a one-dimensional radiative-convective climate model to study the effect of cirrus clouds on surface temperature. It is shown that an increase in cirrus cloud cover can cause a significant warming of the troposphere and the Earth's surface, by the mechanism of an enhanced green-house effect. The dependence of this phenomenon on cloud optical thickness, altitude, and latitude is investigated.
Document ID
19790012513
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lacis, A. A. (NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Wang, W. C. (NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Hansen, J. E. (NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center 4th NASA Weather and Climate Program Sci. Rev.
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
PAPER-51
Accession Number
79N20684
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle19790012462Collected WorksFourth National Aeronautics and Space Administration Weather and Climate Program Science Review
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