Top-of-atmosphere radiation budget of convective core/stratiform rain and anvil clouds from deep convective systems

Zhe Feng, Xiquan Dong, Baike Xi, Courtney Schumacher, Patrick Minnis, Mandana Khaiyer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new hybrid classification algorithm to objectively identify Deep Convective Systems (DCSs) in radar and satellite observations has been developed. This algorithm can classify the convective cores (CC), stratiform rain (SR) area and nonprecipitating anvil cloud (AC) from the identified DCSs through an integrative analysis of ground-based scanning radar and geostationary satellite data over the Southern Great Plains. In developing the algorithm, AC is delineated into transitional, thick, and thin components. While there are distinct physical/dynamical differences among these subcategories, their top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes are not significantly different. Therefore, these anvil subcategories are grouped as total anvil, and the radiative impact of each DCS component on the TOA radiation budget is quantitatively estimated. We found that more DCSs occurred during late afternoon, producing peak AC fraction right after sunset. AC covers 3 times the area of SR and almost an order of magnitude larger than CC. The average outgoing longwave (LW) irradiances are almost identical for CC and SR, while slightly higher for AC. Compared to the clear-sky average, the reflected shortwave (SW) fluxes for the three DCS components are greater by a factor of 2-3 and create a strong cooling effect at TOA. The calculated SW and LW cloud radiative forcing (CRF) of AC contribute up to 31% of total NET CRF, while CC and SR contribute only 4 and 11%, respectively. The hybrid classification further lays the groundwork for studying the life cycle of DCS and improvements in geostationary satellite IR-based precipitation retrievals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberD23202
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
Volume116
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Forestry
  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Soil Science
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Palaeontology

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