Development of Radiation and Cloud Parameterization Programs for AFGL (Air Force Geophysics Laboratory) Global Models.

Abstract

We have devised a computationally economic and accurate radiation program for incorporation in the global models developed at the A.F. Geophysics Laboratory. The program was specifically developed for applications to atmospheres containing high, middle, and low clouds and combinations of these clouds. In addition, we have also developed cloud formation schemes for general circulation models in connection with the radiation program. The present radiation and cloud parameterization program has been successfully incorporated in the AFGL 12-layer global model. Simulations have been performed for cloud and radiation budget distributions using the initial humidity and temperature fields from 12Z, 17 June 1979. Zonally averaged global distributions of cloud cover and radiation budgets at the top of the atmosphere are in general agreement with available cloud and radiation budget climatologies. We also discuss the importance of clouds in the generation of global atmospheric cooling using the results from the AFGL 12-layer model. Keywords: Infrared radiation; Solar radiation; Radiative transfer; Parameterization; AFGL variable-resolution model; Cloud formation; Cloud-radiation interaction.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 06, 1988
Accession Number
ADA193369

Entities

People

  • Kuo-nan Liou
  • Szu-chen Ou

Organizations

  • University of Utah

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Air Force
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Cirrus Clouds
  • Cloud Cover
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Grids
  • Latitude
  • Meteorology
  • Optical Properties
  • Rayleigh Scattering
  • Reflectivity
  • Scattering
  • Solar Heating
  • Solar Radiation
  • Surface Temperature
  • Water Vapor

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation