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Comparison of satellite-derived TOA shortwave clear-sky fluxes to estimates from GCM simulations constrained by satellite observations of land surface characteristics

  1. Valentine G. Anantharaj1,
  2. Udaysankar S. Nair2,*,
  3. Peter Lawrence3,
  4. Thomas N. Chase3,
  5. Sundar Christopher2 and
  6. Thomas Jones2

Article first published online: 25 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1002/joc.2107

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Special Issue: Impacts of land use change on climate

Volume 30, Issue 13, pages 2088–2104, 15 November 2010


Additional Information

How to Cite

Anantharaj, V. G., Nair, U. S., Lawrence, P., Chase, T. N., Christopher, S. and Jones, T. (2010), Comparison of satellite-derived TOA shortwave clear-sky fluxes to estimates from GCM simulations constrained by satellite observations of land surface characteristics. Int. J. Climatol., 30: 2088–2104. doi: 10.1002/joc.2107

Author Information

  1. 1

    Geosystems Research Institute, Mississippi State University, Box 9652, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA

  2. 2

    Earth System Scientific Center, National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA

  3. 3

    Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA

*National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), 3046, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 MAR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 25 MAR 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 JAN 2010
  4. Manuscript Revised: 30 DEC 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 1 DEC 2008

Funded by

  • National Aeronautic and Space Administration via. Grant Number: NNS06AA58G
  • NOAA Office of Atmospheric Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes via. Grant Number: NA06OAR4600181
  • National Science Foundation via. Grant Numbers: NSF ATM0437583, NSF 06398382

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Keywords:

  • radiation energy budget;
  • shortwave fluxes;
  • global circulation model;
  • CERES;
  • MODIS land surface albedo;
  • ocean albedo;
  • vegetation albedo

Abstract

Clear-sky, upwelling shortwave flux at the top of the atmosphere equation image, simulated using the atmospheric and land model components of the Community Climate System Model 3 (CCSM3), is compared to corresponding observational estimates from the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) sensor. Improvements resulting from the use of land surface albedo derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to constrain the simulations are also examined. Compared to CERES observations, CCSM3 overestimates global, annual averaged equation image over both land and oceans. However, regionally, CCSM3 overestimates equation image over some land and ocean areas while underestimating it over other sites. CCSM3 underestimates equation image over the Saharan and Arabian Deserts and substantial differences exist between CERES observations and CCSM3 over agricultural areas. Over selected sites, after using ground-based observations to remove systematic biases that exist in CCSM computation of equation image, it is found that use of MODIS albedo improves the simulation of equation image. Inability of coarse resolution CCSM3 simulation to resolve spatial heterogeneity of snowfall over high altitude sites such as the Tibetan Plateau causes overestimation of equation image in these areas. Discrepancies also exist in the simulation of equation image over ocean areas as CCSM3 does not account for the effect of wind speed on ocean surface albedo. This study shows that the radiative energy budget at the TOA is improved through the use of MODIS albedo in Global Climate Models. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society

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