Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “NET RADIATION”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21

Surface temperature comparison of the Arctic winter MOSAiC observations, ERA5 reanalysis, and MODIS satellite retrieval

Atmospheric model systems, such as those used for weather forecast and reanalysis production, often have significant and systematic errors in their representation of the Arctic surface energy budget and its components. The newly available observation data of the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition (2019/2020) enable a range of model analyses and validation in order to advance our understanding of potential model deficiencies. In the present study, we analyze deficiencies in the surface radiative energy budget over Arctic sea ice in the ERA5 global atmospheric reanalysis by comparing against the winter MOSAiC campaign data, as well as, a pan-Arctic level-2 MODIS ice surface temperature remote sensing product. We find that ERA5 can simulate the timing of radiatively clear periods, though it is not able to distinguish the two observed radiative Arctic winter states, radiatively clear and opaquely cloudy, in the distribution of the net surface radiative budget. The ERA5 surface temperature over Arctic sea ice has a conditional error with a positive bias in radiatively clear conditions and a negative bias in opaquely cloudy conditions. The mean surface temperature error is 4°C for radiatively clear situations at MOSAiC and up to 15°C in some parts of the Arctic. The spatial variability of the surface temperature, given by 4 observation sites at MOSAiC, is not captured by ERA5 due to its spatial resolution but represented in the level-2 satellite product. The sensitivity analysis of possible error sources, using satellite products of snow depth and sea ice thickness, shows that the positive surface temperature errors during radiatively clear events are, to a large extent, caused by insufficient sea ice thickness and snow depth representation in the reanalysis system. A positive bias characterizes regions with ice thickness greater than 1.5 m, while the negative bias for thinner ice is partly compensated by the effect of snow.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Release 2.5 Longwave Monthly Data in Native Format (SRB_REL2.5_LW_MONTHLY)

The Surface Radiation Budget Data include upward and downward fluxes averaged at monthly intervals for the entire globe between 07/01/1983 and 06/30/2005. These parameters were derived using the Longwave algorithm of the NASA World Climate Research Programme/Global Energy and Water-Cycle Experiment (WCRP/GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Project. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1998-01-01; Stop_Date=2005-06-30] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1 degree; Longitude_Resolution=Ranges from 1 degree (tropics and subtropics) to 120 degrees (the poles).; Temporal_Resolution=3 hourly; Temporal_Resolution_Range=3 hourly].

SURFACE UPWARD LONGWAVE FLUX↗

A parameterization for longwave surface radiation from sun-synchronous satellite data

A parameterization is presented for computing downward, upward, and net longwave radiation at the earth's surface using data from NOAA sun-synchronous satellites. The parameterization is applied to satellite soundings for April, 1982 over a large region of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Sensitivity studies were used to estimate the random and systematic errors in computed fluxes due to probable errors in TOVS-derived parameters. It is suggested that large biases in the results due to errors in TOVS-derived parameters may be corrected with data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project.

Gupta, Shashi K.↗

Distinct Surface Response to Black Carbon Aerosols

For the radiative impact of individual climate forcings, most previous studies focused on the global mean values at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), and less attention has been paid to surface processes, especially for black carbon (BC) aerosols. In this study, the surface radiative responses to five different forcing agents were analyzed by using idealized model simulations. Our analyses reveal that for greenhouse gases, solar irradiance, and scattering aerosols, the surface temperature changes are mainly dictated by the changes of surface radiative heating, but for BC, surface energy redistribution between different components plays a more crucial role. Globally, when a unit BC forcing is imposed at TOA, the net shortwave radiation at the surface decreases by −5.87±0.67 W m −2 (W m −2 ) −1 (averaged over global land without Antarctica), which is partially offset by increased downward longwave radiation (2.32±0.38 W m −2 (W m −2 ) −1 from the warmer atmosphere, causing a net decrease in the incoming downward surface radiation of −3.56±0.60 W m −2 (W m −2 ) −1 . Despite a reduction in the downward radiation energy, the surface air temperature still increases by 0.25±0.08 K because of less efficient energy dissipation, manifested by reduced surface sensible (−2.88±0.43 W m −2 (W m −2 ) −1 ) and latent heat flux (−1.54±0.27 W m −2 (W m −2 ) −1 ), as well as a decrease in Bowen ratio (−0.20±0.07 (W m −2 ) −1 ). Such reductions of turbulent fluxes can be largely explained by enhanced air stability (0.07±0.02 K (W m −2 ) −1 ), measured as the difference of the potential temperature between 925 hPa and surface, and reduced surface wind speed (−0.05±0.01 m s −1 (W m −2 ) −1 ). The enhanced stability is due to the faster atmospheric warming relative to the surface, whereas the reduced wind speed can be partially explained by enhanced stability and reduced Equator-to-pole atmospheric temperature gradient. These rapid adjustments under BC forcing occur in the lower atmosphere and propagate downward to influence the surface energy redistribution and thus surface temperature response, which is not observed under greenhouse gases or scattering aerosols. Our study provides new insights into the impact of absorbing aerosols on surface energy balance and surface temperature response.

radiative impact↗

Observing ocean-atmosphere exchanges with space-borne sensors, appendix C

At present, space-borne sensors cannot give accurate measurements of net longwave radiation and sensible heat flux at ocean surface. The variability of ocean surface net insolation was successfully estimated from observations using geostationary satellites. Global coverages of the low frequency variation of major atmosphere-ocean exchanges, momentum, latent heat, and insolation are within reach. Data from research and defense satellites should be made available in useful form to the user community. High quality in-situ measurements are required to calibrate space-borne sensors and numerical models are needed to integrate satellite and in-situ data as well as interpolate both in space and time. Techniques that can resolve boundary layer parameters should be developed.

Liu, W. T.↗

The Influence of Environmental State on Lightning and Convective Parameter Distributions

A merged and highly reduced database of TRMM level 1 (precipitation radar, microwave imager, lightning) and NCEP reanalysis (basic state, radiative and surface flux) data has been assembled for three years of the TRMM mission. This allows direct examination of the dependence of convective spectra (as observed through radar reflectivity, microwave brightness temperature and lightning flash rate) on environmental basic states and anomalies. Such analysis may be more physically justified and instructive than traditional geographic and/or seasonal binning. The dependence of convective spectra on several environmental forcing parameters is presented, including surface Bowen ratio (sensible heat to total turbulent flux), net atmospheric radiative flux convergence and net atmospheric enthalpy flux convergence. The latter are basic drivers of net moisture convergence in simple quasi-equilibrium models of tropical atmospheric convection.

Boccippio, D.↗

The Mg 2 h and k lines in a sample of dMe and dM stars

Both Mg II h and k line fluxes are presented for a sample of 4 dMe and 3 dM stars obtained with the IUE satellite in the long wavelength, low dispersion mode. The observed fluxes are converted to stellar surface flux units and the importance of chromospheric non radiative heating in this sample of M dwarf stars is intercompared. In addition, the net chromospheric radiative losses due to the Ca II H and K lines in those stars in the sample for which calibrated Ca II H and K line data exist are compared. Active region filling factors which likely give rise to the observed optical and ultraviolet chromospheric emission are estimated. The implications of the results for homogeneous, single component stellar model chromospheres analyses are discussed.

Giampapa, M. S.↗

CERES BiDirectional Scans (BDS) data in HDF (CER_BDS_Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV)

Each BiDirectional Scans (BDS) data product contains twenty-four hours of Level-1b data for each CERES scanner instrument mounted on each spacecraft. The BDS includes samples taken in normal and short Earth scan elevation profiles in both fixed and rotating azimuth scan modes (including space, internal calibration, and solar calibration views). The BDS contains Level-0 raw (unconverted) science and instrument data as well as the geolocated converted science and instrument data. The BDS contains additional data not found in the Level-0 input file, including converted satellite position and velocity data, celestial data, converted digital status data, and parameters used in the radiance count conversion equations. The following CERES BDS data sets are currently available: CER_BDS_TRMM-PFM_Edition1 CER_BDS_Terra-FM1_Edition1 CER_BDS_Terra-FM2_Edition1 CER_BDS_Terra-FM1_Edition2 CER_BDS_Terra-FM2_Edition2 CER_BDS_Aqua-FM3_Edition1 CER_BDS_Aqua-FM4_Edition1 CER_BDS_Aqua-FM3_Edition2 CER_BDS_Aqua-FM4_Edition2 CER_BDS_Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV CER_BDS_Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV CER_BDS_Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV CER_BDS_Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1997-12-27; Stop_Date=2006-11-02] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Temporal_Resolution=1 day; Temporal_Resolution_Range=Daily - < Weekly].

WINDOW DETECTOR OUTPUT↗

Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) Data Release 5.1

The Surface meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) data set contains over 200 parameters formulated for assessing and designing renewable energy systems.The SSE data set is formulated from NASA satellite- and reanalysis-derived insolation and meteorological data for the 10-year period July 1983 through June 1993. Results are provided for 1 degree latitude by 1 degree longitude grid cells over the globe. Average daily and monthly measurements for 1195 World Radiation Data Centre ground sites are also available. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1983-07-01; Stop_Date=1993-06-30] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1 degree; Longitude_Resolution=1 degree].

Arctic heating↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-30044-DND

The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project now has over 17 years accurately observed top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) flux record for climate monitoring and diagnostic studies. The CERES FluxByCldTyp dataset, which contains cloud properties and radiative fluxes for 42 cloud types sorted by cloud top pressure and cloud optical depth, is used to investigate the clouds and their associated TOA (top-of-the-atmosphere) fluxes changes over the tropical area during ENSO events during the observed period. Unlike past studies, this study shows the impact of ENSO on cloud properties like optical depth, cloud top effective pressure and temperature and TOA LW and SW fluxes for each sub cloud type. The study reveals the detailed contributions from different cloud types for radiative characteristics during different regimes of ENSOs. This is especially important for very small net TOA radiative balance due to the cancellation of the fluxes from different cloud types. The dataset serves as a more stringent validation of climate models for cloud properties and radiative fluxes.

Sun, Moguo↗

ENSO Tropical Cloud and TOA radiative signatures from the CERES observation

The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project now has over 15 years accurately observed top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) flux record for climate monitoring and diagnostic studies. The CERES flux-by-cloud-type dataset, which contains cloud properties and radiative fluxes for 42 cloud types sorted by cloud top pressure and cloud optical depth, is used to investigate the clouds and their associated TOA (top-of-the-atmosphere) fluxes changes over the tropical area during ENSO events during the observed period. Unlike past studies, this study shows the impact of ENSO on cloud properties like optical depth, cloud top effective pressure and temperature and TOA LW and SW fluxes for each sub cloud type. The study reveals the detailed contributions from different cloud types for radiative characteristics during different phases of ENSO. This is especially important for very small net TOA radiative balance due to the cancellation of the fluxes from different cloud types. To further demonstrate the usefulness of this dataset, NCAR Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) is used to simulate the cloud and radiative changes during the period. The model cloud properties are converted to MODIS like cloud properties using modified MODIS simulator. The dataset serves as a more stringent validation of the model for cloud properties and radiative fluxes.

Moguo Sun↗

Intercomparison of observed cloud radiative forcing - A zonal and global perspective

Cloud radiative forcing determined by the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scene identification method and two regression methods is compared using identical data sources and the same analysis periods. Results confirm that from the global perspective the increased reflection of SW radiation induced by clouds is greater than outgoing longwave energy trapped by clouds. The estimates of net effect obtained from the three methods are found to be in good agreement (within 3.5 W/sq m). It is concluded that differences in published global mean values of net cloud radiative forcing are mainly due to different data sources and analysis periods. The best estimated annual mean among all previous estimates is considered to be the ERBE measurement (-17.3 W/sq m).

Sohn, Byung-Ju↗

Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Release 2.5 Longwave 3 hourly Monthly Data in Native Format (SRB_REL2.5_LW_3HRLY_MONTHLY)

The surface radiation budget data include the averageupward and downward fluxes at three hourly intervals for the entire globe between 07/01/1983 and 06/30/2005. These parameters were derived using the Longwave algorithm of the NASA World Climate Research Programme/Global Energy and Water-Cycle Experiment (WCRP/GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Project. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1998-01-01; Stop_Date=2005-06-30] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1 degree; Longitude_Resolution=Ranges from 1 degree (tropics and subtropics) to 120 degrees (the poles).; Temporal_Resolution=3 hourly values averaged monthly; Temporal_Resolution_Range=monthly].

OUTGOING LONGWAVE RADIATION↗

Examination of Regional Trends in Low Level Cloud Properties Found in the Aqua-MODIS Satellite Record

Clouds have a pronounced influence on the Earth?s climate. Relative to cloud free conditions, they cool the planet by increasing the amount of solar radiation reflected back to space and reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface, but they warm the planet by decreasing the amount of thermal infrared radiation escaping to space and increasing the amount reaching the surface (a greenhouse effect). The global mean net cloud radiative effect (CRE) is about -20 W/m2, a cooling effect at both the top-ofatmosphere and surface. Given the magnitude of CRE?s, it is expected that changes in cloud properties could be a significant factor in climate change due to anthropogenic forcing?s, yet cloud feedbacks are not well known and remain one of the largest uncertainties in climate prediction. This paper explores relationships between coincident observations of atmospheric aerosols, clouds and radiation derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and from the Clouds and the Earth?s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments on the Aqua satellite. We investigate several interesting regional trends that have emerged in the nearly 18-year satellite record that suggest correlation between changes in low-level cloud properties and changes in aerosol optical depth that may be associated with changes in pollution emissions and possibly with other factors. MERRA reanalysis of meteorological conditions and aerosol particulate species are investigated to help better understand the potential mechanisms responsible for the observed cloud property trends. Finally, we analyze a new CERES flux by cloud type dataset in order to try and isolate the associated trends in low-level cloud radiative effects. It is anticipated that this study using long-term observations of clouds, aerosols and radiative fluxes combined with model reanalysis data will contribute to an improved understanding of cloud climate feedbacks.

William L Smith Jr.↗

Arctic Summer Airmass Transformation, Surface Inversions, and the Surface Energy Budget

During the Arctic Clouds in Summer Experiment (ACSE) in summer 2014 a weeklong period of warm-air advection over melting sea ice, with the formation of a strong surface temperature inversion and dense fog, was observed. Based on an analysis of the surface energy budget, we formulated the hypothesis that, because of the airmass transformation, additional surface heating occurs during warm-air intrusions in a zone near the ice edge. To test this hypothesis, we explore all cases with surface inversions occurring during ACSE and then characterize the inversions in detail. We find that they always occur with advection from the south and are associated with subsidence. Analyzing only inversion cases over sea ice, we find two categories: one with increasing moisture in the inversion and one with constant or decreasing moisture with height. During surface inversions with increasing moisture with height, an extra 10–25 W m −2 of surface heating was observed, compared to cases without surface inversions; the surface turbulent heat flux was the largest single term. Cases with less moisture in the inversion were often cloud free and the extra solar radiation plus the turbulent surface heat flux caused by the inversion was roughly balanced by the loss of net longwave radiation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Release 2 Shortwave Daily Data in Native Format (SRB_REL2_SW_DAILY)

This data set contains upward and downward fluxes, photosynthetically active radiative flux, aerosol and cloud optical depth, cloud fraction, and solar zenith angle measured at three hourly intervals for each day for the entire globe between 07/01/1983 and 10/31/1995. These SW surface radiative parameters were derived with the Shortwave algorithm of the NASA World Climate Research Programme/Global Energy and Water-Cycle Experiment (WCRP/GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Project. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1983-07-01; Stop_Date=1998-07-26] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1 degree; Longitude_Resolution=Ranges from 1 degree (tropics and subtropics) to 120 degrees (the poles).; Temporal_Resolution=daily; Temporal_Resolution_Range=daily].

ALL SKY SW SURFACE UPWARD FLUX↗

Sensitivity of surface temperature and atmospheric temperature to perturbations in the stratospheric concentration of ozone and nitrogen dioxide

A radiative-convective model is proposed for estimating the sensitivity of the atmospheric radiative heating rates and atmospheric and surface temperatures to perturbations in the concentration of O3 and NO2 in the stratosphere. Contribution to radiative energy transfer within the atmosphere from H2O, CO2, O3, and NO2 is considered. It is found that the net solar radiation absorbed by the earth-atmosphere system decreases with a reduction in O3; if the reduction of O3 is accompanied by an increase in NO2, there is a compensating effect due to solar absorption by NO2. The surface temperature and atmospheric temperature decrease with decreasing stratospheric O3. Another major conclusion is the strong sensitivity of surface temperature to the vertical distribution of O3 within the atmosphere. The results should be considered as reflecting the sensitivity of the proposed model rather than the sensitivity of the actual earth-atmosphere system.

Ramanathan, V.↗

Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Release 2.5 QC Longwave 3 Hourly Monthly Data in Native Format(SRB_REL2.5_QCLW_3HRLY_MONTHLY)

These surface radiation budget data sets include downward fluxes and cloud radiative properties for the entire globe between 07/01/1983 and 06/30/2005. These parameters were parameters derived with the Quality-Check LW (QCLW) algorithm of the NASA World Climate Research Programme /Global Energy and Water-Cycle Experiment (WCRP/GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Project. [Location=GLOBAL] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=1998-01-01; Stop_Date=2004-12-31] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1 degree; Longitude_Resolution=Ranges from 1 degree in the tropics to 120 degrees at the poles; Temporal_Resolution=3 hourly averaged monthly].

CLOUD FORCING↗