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Satellite orbit and data sampling requirementsClimate forcings and feedbacks vary over a wide range of time and space scales. The operation of non-linear feedbacks can couple variations at widely separated time and space scales and cause climatological phenomena to be intermittent. Consequently, monitoring of global, decadal changes in climate requires global observations that cover the whole range of space-time scales and are continuous over several decades. The sampling of smaller space-time scales must have sufficient statistical accuracy to measure the small changes in the forcings and feedbacks anticipated in the next few decades, while continuity of measurements is crucial for unambiguous interpretation of climate change. Shorter records of monthly and regional (500-1000 km) measurements with similar accuracies can also provide valuable information about climate processes, when 'natural experiments' such as large volcanic eruptions or El Ninos occur. In this section existing satellite datasets and climate model simulations are used to test the satellite orbits and sampling required to achieve accurate measurements of changes in forcings and feedbacks at monthly frequency and 1000 km (regional) scale.
Document ID
19940017175
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rossow, William
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Long-Term Monitoring of Global Climate Forcings and Feedbacks
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
94N21648
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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