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Assessing Cloud Overlap Parameterizations of Global Climate Models Using ARM Data

Stephens, G.L., Gabriel, P., and Wood, N.B., Colorado State University
Twelfth Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Science Team Meeting

We will report on our research that uses ARM MMCR data from three CART sites to evaluate various overlap parameterizations as commonly employed in climate models. This assessment is carried out in terms of: 1. The statistical properties of overlap derived from MMCR data compared to those implied in the parameterizations. 2. The effect of these parameterizations on derived fluxes and heating rates versus the fluxes and heating rates derived from single column models that use ARM observations as direct input. 3. Examination of the effects of the uncertainties of the overlap parameterizations, as determined from (2) above, on climate model integrations. The NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM) together with the new BUGSrad radiation scheme with different overlap assumptions are used to provide these climate integrations.

Note: This is the poster abstract presented at the meeting; an extended version was not provided by the author(s).