Abstract
The effect of cloud feedback on the response of a radiative-convective model to a change in cloud model parameters, atmospheric CO2 concentration, and solar constant has been studied using two different parameterization schemes. The method for simulating the vertical distribution of both cloud cover and cloud optical thickness, which depends on the relative humidity and on the saturation mixing ratio of water vapor, respectively, is the same in both approaches, but the schemes differ with respect to modeling the water vapor profile. In scheme I atmospheric water vapor is coupled to surface parameters, while in scheme II an explicit balance equation for water vapor in the individual atmospheric layers is used. For both models the combined effect of feedbacks due to variations in lapse rate, cloud cover, and cloud optical thickness results in different relationships between changes in surface temperature, planetary temperature, and cloud cover. Specifically, for a CO2 doubling and a 2% increase in solar constant, in both models the surface warming is reduced by cloud feedback, in contrast to no feedback, with the greater reduction in scheme I as compared to that of scheme II.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Charlock, T. P. (1982),Cloud optical feedback and climate stability in a radiative-convective model. Tellus34, 245–254.
Geleyn, J. F. (1981),Workshop on radiation and cloud radiation interaction in numerical modeling. European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast, Reading, U.K., 135–162.
Hansen, J., Russell, G., Rind, D., Stone, P., Lacis, A., Lebedeff, S., Ruedy, R. andTravis, L. (1983),Efficient three-dimensional global models for climate studies, Models 1 and 2. Mon. Wea. Rev.111, 609–662.
Hense, A., Kerschgens, M. andRaschke, E. (1982),An economical method for computing energy transfer in general circulation models. Quart. J.R. Meteor. Soc.108, 231–252.
Hummel, J. (1982),Surface temperature sensitivities in a multiple cloud radiative-convective model with a constant and pressure dependent critical lapse rate. Tellus34, 203–208.
Hummel, J. R. andKuhn, W. R. (1981a),Comparison of radiative-convective models with constant and pressure-dependent lapse rates. Tellus33, 254–261.
Hummel, J. R. andKuhn, W. R. (1981b),An atmospheric radiative-convective model with interactive water vapor transport and cloud development. Tellus33, 372–381.
Hunt, B. G. (1981),An examination of some feedback mechanisms in the carbon dioxide problem. Tellus33, 77–88.
Junge, C. (1972),The cycle of atmospheric gases—natural and man-made. Quart. J. R. Meteor. Soc.9, 554–563.
Manabe, S. andWetherald, R. T. (1967),Thermal equilibrium of the atmosphere with a given distribution of relative humidity. J. Atmos. Sci.24, 241–259.
Ramanathan, V. (1976),Radiative transfer within the earth's troposphere and stratosphere: A simplified radiative-convective model. J. Atmos. Sci.33, 1330–1346.
Ramanathan, V. (1981),The role of ocean-atmospheric interactions in the CO 2 climate problem. J. Atmos. Sci.38, 918–930.
Ramanathan, V., Pitcher, S., Malone, R. andBlackmon, M. (1983),The response of a spectral general circulation model to refinements in radiative processes. J. Atmos. Sci.40, 605–630.
Reck, R. (1979),Comparison of fixed cloud top temperatures and fixed cloud top altitude approximations in the Manabe-Wetherald radiative-convective atmospheric model. Tellus31, 400–405.
Saltzman, B. (1980),Parameterization of the vertical flux of latent heat at the earth's surface for use in climate models Arch. Met. Geophys. Biokl., Ser. A29, 41–53.
Saltzman, B. andAshe, S. (1976),The variance of surface temperature due to diurnal and cyclone scale forcing. Tellus28, 307–321.
Schneider, S. andDickinson, R. E. (1974),Climate modeling. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys.12, 447–493.
Sellers, W. D. (1973),A new global climatic model J. Appl. Meteor.12, 241–254.
Somerville, R. C. J. andRemer, L. A. (1984),Cloud optical thickness feedbacks in the CO 2 climate problem J. Geophys. Res.89, 9668–9672.
Stephens, G. L. (1978),Radiation profiles in extended water clouds, II. Parameterization schemes J. Atmos. Sci.35, 2123–2132.
Stephens, G. L. andWebster, P. J. (1981),Clouds and climate: Sensitivity of simple systems J. Atmos. Sci.38, 235–247.
Stephens G. L. andWebster, P. J. (1984),Cloud decoupling of the surface and planetary radiative budgets. J. Atmos. Sci.41, 681–686.
Wang, W. C., Rossow, W. B., Yao, M. S. andWolfson, M. (1981),Climate sensitivity of a one dimensional radiative-convective model with cloud feedback. J. Atmos. Sci.38, 1167–1178.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jung, HJ., Bach, W. Parameterizations of cloud feedback in a radiative-convective model. PAGEOPH 123, 610–623 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877457
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877457