Comparison of Cloud Properties between MODIS Observations and CAM3 Simulation
Abstract
Five years of global daytime cloud observations (Collection 5) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data onboard the Aqua Spacecraft are compared to the simulations using National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3). The cloud microphysical and optical properties are derived by the MODIS Atmospheres Team and the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Science Team separately. In addition to the Collection 5 MODIS cloud properties, a gridded (1°x1°) CERES cloud property product is investigated. The CERES cloud product is based on a mixture of CERES edition 1A and 1B algorithms. Reasonable agreement is found between the observations and simulations for the cloud fraction, water particle effective radius and low-latitude cloud liquid water path. However, significant differences are detected for the ice particle effective radius, cloud ice water path and mid-latitude cloud liquid water path. The comparisons indicate that ice cloud properties are poorly represented in CAM3 and need to be updated. We also find that water cloud properties retrieved by the MODIS team are slightly higher than that by the CERES team.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.A13G0316L
- Keywords:
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- 3311 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Clouds and aerosols;
- 3337 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Global climate models