Constraining the aerosol influence on cloud ...
Document type :
Article dans une revue scientifique: Article original
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Title :
Constraining the aerosol influence on cloud liquid water path
Author(s) :
Gryspeerdt, Edward [Auteur]
Goren, Tom [Auteur]
Sourdeval, Odran [Auteur]
Leipziger Institut für Meteorologie [LIM]
Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA) - UMR 8518
Quaas, Johannes [Auteur]
Mülmenstädt, Johannes [Auteur]
Dipu, Sudhakar [Auteur]
Unglaub, Claudia [Auteur]
Gettelman, Andrew [Auteur]
Christensen, Matthew [Auteur]
Goren, Tom [Auteur]
Sourdeval, Odran [Auteur]

Leipziger Institut für Meteorologie [LIM]
Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA) - UMR 8518
Quaas, Johannes [Auteur]
Mülmenstädt, Johannes [Auteur]
Dipu, Sudhakar [Auteur]
Unglaub, Claudia [Auteur]
Gettelman, Andrew [Auteur]
Christensen, Matthew [Auteur]
Journal title :
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Abbreviated title :
Atmos. Chem. Phys.
Volume number :
19
Pages :
5331-5347
Publisher :
Copernicus GmbH
Publication date :
2019-04-18
ISSN :
1680-7324
HAL domain(s) :
Planète et Univers [physics]/Océan, Atmosphère
Planète et Univers [physics]/Sciences de la Terre/Climatologie
Planète et Univers [physics]/Océan, Atmosphère
Planète et Univers [physics]/Sciences de la Terre/Climatologie
Planète et Univers [physics]/Océan, Atmosphère
English abstract : [en]
The impact of aerosols on cloud properties is one of the largest uncertainties in the anthropogenic radiative forcing of the climate. Significant progress has been made in constraining this forcing using observations, but ...
Show more >The impact of aerosols on cloud properties is one of the largest uncertainties in the anthropogenic radiative forcing of the climate. Significant progress has been made in constraining this forcing using observations, but uncertainty remains, particularly in the magnitude of cloud rapid adjustments to aerosol perturbations. Cloud liquid water path (LWP) is the leading control on liquid-cloud albedo, making it important to observationally constrain the aerosol impact on LWP. Previous modelling and observational studies have shown that multiple processes play a role in determining the LWP response to aerosol perturbations, but that the aerosol effect can be difficult to isolate. Following previous studies using mediating variables, this work investigates use of the relationship between cloud droplet number concentration (Nd) and LWP for constraining the role of aerosols. Using joint-probability histograms to account for the non-linear relationship, this work finds a relationship that is broadly consistent with previous studies. There is significant geographical variation in the relationship, partly due to role of meteorological factors (particularly relative humidity). The Nd–LWP relationship is negative in the majority of regions, suggesting that aerosol-induced LWP reductions could offset a significant fraction of the instantaneous radiative forcing from aerosol–cloud interactions (RFaci). However, variations in the Nd–LWP relationship in response to volcanic and shipping aerosol perturbations indicate that the Nd–LWP relationship overestimates the causal Nd impact on LWP due to the role of confounding factors. The weaker LWP reduction implied by these “natural experiments” means that this work provides an upper bound to the radiative forcing from aerosol-induced changes in the LWP.Show less >
Show more >The impact of aerosols on cloud properties is one of the largest uncertainties in the anthropogenic radiative forcing of the climate. Significant progress has been made in constraining this forcing using observations, but uncertainty remains, particularly in the magnitude of cloud rapid adjustments to aerosol perturbations. Cloud liquid water path (LWP) is the leading control on liquid-cloud albedo, making it important to observationally constrain the aerosol impact on LWP. Previous modelling and observational studies have shown that multiple processes play a role in determining the LWP response to aerosol perturbations, but that the aerosol effect can be difficult to isolate. Following previous studies using mediating variables, this work investigates use of the relationship between cloud droplet number concentration (Nd) and LWP for constraining the role of aerosols. Using joint-probability histograms to account for the non-linear relationship, this work finds a relationship that is broadly consistent with previous studies. There is significant geographical variation in the relationship, partly due to role of meteorological factors (particularly relative humidity). The Nd–LWP relationship is negative in the majority of regions, suggesting that aerosol-induced LWP reductions could offset a significant fraction of the instantaneous radiative forcing from aerosol–cloud interactions (RFaci). However, variations in the Nd–LWP relationship in response to volcanic and shipping aerosol perturbations indicate that the Nd–LWP relationship overestimates the causal Nd impact on LWP due to the role of confounding factors. The weaker LWP reduction implied by these “natural experiments” means that this work provides an upper bound to the radiative forcing from aerosol-induced changes in the LWP.Show less >
Language :
Anglais
Peer reviewed article :
Oui
Audience :
Internationale
Popular science :
Non
European Project :
Administrative institution(s) :
Université de Lille
CNRS
CNRS
Collections :
Research team(s) :
Interactions Rayonnement Nuages (IRN)
Submission date :
2023-01-06T12:36:20Z
2023-01-17T14:44:16Z
2023-01-17T14:44:16Z
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