Cloud and Radiation Budget Studies.

This research work involves the development of cloud and ERB climatologies using the AFGWC 3DNEPH cloud information and the Nimbus-7 ERB data. The climatologies consist of daily, monthly, and diurnal monthly cloud and ERB information. The NEPH cloud climatologies are compared to existing cloud climatologies. In addition, the outgoing IR flux at the top of the atmosphere is computed using the University of Utah IR parameterization model. These fluxes are compared with the appropriate ERB fluxes. The difference between the ERB and the model flux is used to modify both the zonal cloud parameters and the cloud parameters associated with a number of specific grid points. Finally, the cloud ERB climatologies are used to determine the sensitivity of the outgoing long and shortwave flux and the net radiation to changes in the total cloud amount. Zonal and global averages of these sensitivity factors are calculated. The magnitude of these factors gives the relative importance of the albedo and greenhouse effects.