clouds: the wild card
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Clouds: The Wild Card. Bruno Tremblay McGill University. [email protected]. Effect of Clouds Night Time. Facts about Clouds. Clear-sky day are warm Cloudy-sky day day are cold Clear-sky night are cold Clear-sky day are warm. Greenhouse effect of Clouds. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Clouds:Clouds:The Wild CardThe Wild Card
Bruno TremblayBruno Tremblay
McGill UniversityMcGill University
Effect of CloudsEffect of CloudsNight TimeNight Time
Facts about CloudsFacts about Clouds
Clear-sky day are warmClear-sky day are warm Cloudy-sky day day are coldCloudy-sky day day are cold
Clear-sky night are coldClear-sky night are cold Clear-sky day are warmClear-sky day are warm
Greenhouse effect of Greenhouse effect of CloudsClouds
Clouds absorb LW radiation from Clouds absorb LW radiation from the surface and then re-emits the surface and then re-emits upwards at their own upwards at their own temperaturetemperature
Since clouds are colder than Since clouds are colder than the surface – temperature the surface – temperature decreases with heights – the decreases with heights – the earth-atmosphere system emits earth-atmosphere system emits less radiation to spaceless radiation to space
Low level cloudsReflects SWemits at high tempCools the earth
High Level CloudsTransparent to SWEmits at low tempWarms the earth
Thick CloudsReflect SWEmits at low tempNeutral effect
Radiative Forcing of Radiative Forcing of CloudsClouds
Low Cloud Forcing High Cloud Forcing
Different cloudsDifferent clouds
Global Annual MeanGlobal Annual Mean
Cooling Effect of Clouds = 48 Cooling Effect of Clouds = 48 W/m2W/m2
Warming Effect of Clouds = 31 Warming Effect of Clouds = 31 W/m2W/m2
Net Effect of Clouds = 17 W/m2 Net Effect of Clouds = 17 W/m2 (Cooling)(Cooling)
Clouds – in today’s climate – Clouds – in today’s climate – act to cool the climateact to cool the climate
Comparison with CO2Comparison with CO2
Anthropogenic increase in CO2: Anthropogenic increase in CO2: 280 280 490ppm (40% increase) 490ppm (40% increase)
Reduction in thermal outgoing Reduction in thermal outgoing radiation: 1.6 W/m2radiation: 1.6 W/m2
Equvalent to placing a 60W light Equvalent to placing a 60W light buld every 6m by 6m surface area buld every 6m by 6m surface area over the entire earth surface. over the entire earth surface.
Conparison with CO2Conparison with CO2
CO2 increase in the atmosphere is CO2 increase in the atmosphere is equivalent to:equivalent to: 1.6/48 * 100 = 3% change in reflection 1.6/48 * 100 = 3% change in reflection of solar radiation by cloudsof solar radiation by clouds
1.6/31 * 100 = 5% change in the 1.6/31 * 100 = 5% change in the reduction of thermal radiation by cloudsreduction of thermal radiation by clouds
1.6/17 * 100 = 9% change in net effect 1.6/17 * 100 = 9% change in net effect of clouds on radiationof clouds on radiation
Are clouds sensitive to changes in Are clouds sensitive to changes in earth temperature?earth temperature?
Cloud feedbacks on Cloud feedbacks on ClimateClimate
Warming
GH Effect
Cloud reflection
Weaker
Stronger
Weaker
Stronger
Exacerbate
mitigate
Positive feedbackPositive feedback
More high level of cloudsMore high level of clouds Fewer low level cloudsFewer low level clouds Increase in height of cloud topIncrease in height of cloud top Decrease in cloud thicknessDecrease in cloud thickness
Positive feedbackPositive feedback
Fewer high level of cloudsFewer high level of clouds More low level cloudsMore low level clouds Decrease in height of cloud topDecrease in height of cloud top Increase in cloud thicknessIncrease in cloud thickness
What are the cloud net What are the cloud net effect on climate?effect on climate?
We don’t know – But we can try!We don’t know – But we can try!
Use Climate ModelUse Climate Model Use data from the last 50 yearsUse data from the last 50 years
GCM - UncertaintiesGCM - Uncertainties
Satellite DataSatellite Data
Two problems:Two problems: Changes in clouds may not be linked with Changes in clouds may not be linked with temperature changestemperature changes
Satellite were made for weather not Satellite were made for weather not climate monitoringclimate monitoring
Satellite data show decrease of high Satellite data show decrease of high level clouds over ocean and land in level clouds over ocean and land in accord with land obsaccord with land obs
Satellite data show a decrease in low Satellite data show a decrease in low level clouds over ocean and land in level clouds over ocean and land in disagreement with land obsdisagreement with land obs