HR: 1340h
AN: A53D-1445    [Abstracts]
TI: Evaluating cloud-layer fractions and associated atmosphere profiles of Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework using the A-Train constellation of satellites
AU: * Chern, J
EM: jchern@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA/GSFC, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Code613.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: * Chern, J
EM: jchern@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: UMBC/GEST, 5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 32D, Baltimore, MD 21228, United States
AU: Matsui, T
EM: matsui@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA/GSFC, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Code613.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Matsui, T
EM: matsui@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: UMBC/GEST, 5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 32D, Baltimore, MD 21228, United States
AU: Tao, W
EM: tao@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA/GSFC, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Code613.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Shen, B
EM: shen@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA/GSFC, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Code613.1, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Shen, B
EM: shen@agnes.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: UMCP/ESSIC, 2207 Computer and Space Science Bldg. (#224), College Park, MD 20742, United States
AU: Masunaga, H
EM: masunaga@hyarc.nagoya-u.ac.jp
AF: Hydrospheric Atmospheric Research Center, Nagoya University, Hydrospheric Atmospheric Research Center Nagoya University Furocho Chikusaku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
AB: Although cloud fractions defined at different layers are a first-order parameter that controls earth's energy and water budget and climate system, their global-scale measurements were strictly limited by passive space-born remote sensing. However, the emergence of space-born Cloud Profile Radar (CPR) onboard CloudSat has begun to uncover global three-dimensional cloud structures. CPR measures the radar backscattering signals from optically thick large-particle clouds at the millimeter wavelength (94GHz). The backscattering signals provide more accurate pictures of vertical profiles of cloud layers that can be used to evaluate the cloud parameterization of weather/climate models in details. This study evaluates Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework (MMF) using the cloud-layer fraction derived from CloudSat radar reflectivity. The Goddard MMF is the general circulation model (GCM) that explicitly resolves convective eddies and condensates by the embedded two-dimensional cloud resolving model at each GCM column. Thus, it allows more direct comparison with high-resolution satellite observations. We use the cloud radar simulators in QuickBeam and Satellite Data Simulator Unit (SDSU) to derive satellite-consistent product of radar reflectivity and brightness temperature from the MMF-simulated cloud and precipitation condensates. Since the explicitly simulated cloud fractions and radiative processes feed back to the tendencies of thermodynamic variables in GCM, we will also examine AIRS-derived water vapor and temperature profiles, CERES-derived top-of-atmosphere outgoing longwave radiation and shortwave radiation, AMSR-E-derived precipitation, and examine how the errors in cloud-layer fractions in Goddard MMF are linked to the simulated energy and water cycles.
DE: 0320 Cloud physics and chemistry
DE: 0321 Cloud/radiation interaction
DE: 3310 Clouds and cloud feedbacks
DE: 3314 Convective processes
DE: 3337 Global climate models (1626, 4928)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting