Title
Evaluating cloud properties in an ensemble of regional online coupled models against satellite observations
Author
Baró, R.
Jiménez-Guerrero, P.
Stengel, M.
Brunner, D.
Curci, G.
Forkel, R.
Neal, L.
Palacios-Peña, L.
Savage, N.
Schaap, M.
Tuccella, P.
van der Gon, H.D.
Galmarini, S.
Publication year
2018
Abstract
Online coupled meteorology-chemistry models permit the description of the aerosol-radiation (ARI) and aerosol-cloud interactions (ACIs). The aim of this work is to assess the representation of several cloud properties in regional-scale coupled models when simulating the climate-chemistry-cloud-radiation system. The evaluated simulations are performed under the umbrella of the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) Phase 2 and include ARI+ACI interactions. Model simulations are evaluated against observational data from the European Space Agency (ESA) Cloud_cci project. The results show an underestimation (overestimation) of cloud fraction (CF) over land (sea) areas by the models. Lower bias values are found in the ensemble mean. Cloud optical depth (COD) and cloud ice water path (IWP) are generally underestimated over the whole European domain. The cloud liquid water path (LWP) is broadly overestimated. The temporal correlation suggests a generally positive correlation between models and satellite observations. Finally, CF gives the best spatial variability representation, whereas COD, IWP, and LWP show less capacity. The differences found can be attributed to differences in the microphysics schemes used; for instance, the number of ice hydrometeors and the prognostic/diagnostic treatment of the LWP are relevant. © 2018 Author(s).
Subject
Urbanisation
Environment & Sustainability
Acis
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:738e5788-ac09-4317-acea-e6b7ccf6906b
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-15183-2018
TNO identifier
843769
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
1680-7316
Source
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18 (18), 15183-15199
Document type
article