Surface downward longwave radiation (SDLR) is a key component of the Earth's energy budget. To use new-generation geostationary satellite data with high spatial and spectral resolution for SDLR estimation, we developed clear-sky algorithm based on multi-channel brightness temperature (BT) precipitable water vapor (PWV), named as MBTW, strictly clear conditions, atmospheric parameters (named New...

Increased clouds and precipitation normally decrease the diurnal temperature range (DTR) and thus have commonly been offered as explanation for the trend of reduced DTR observed for many land areas over the last several decades. Observations show, however, that the DTR was reduced most in dry regions and especially in the West African Sahel during a period of unprecedented drought. Furthermore,...

[1] We analyze the seasonal variations of Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) accompanying the variations in sea surface temperature (SST) from satellite observations and model simulations, focusing on the tropical oceans where the two quantities are strikingly anti-correlated. A spectral perspective of this ‘‘super-greenhouse effect’’ is provided, which demonstrates the roles of water vapor line...

The interaction of shortwave and infrared radiation in the atmosphere with clouds and greenhouse gases represents a complex process that contributes significantly to maintaining earth's climate system. For climate model simulations to become more accurate, it is essential that this process be modeled properly as verified by direct comparisons with observations and with results from a validated ...

An intermediate-complexity, quasi–physically based, meteorological model (MicroMet) has been developed to produce high-resolution (e.g., 30-m to 1-km horizontal grid increment) atmospheric forcings required to run spatially distributed terrestrial models over a wide variety of landscapes. The following eight variables, required to run most terrestrial models, are distributed: air temperature, r...

[1] Model results and observations both indicate warming of the world ocean from 1955 to 2003. Forced by reanalysis data, the model also shows that the warming of the arctic ice–ocean system is faster than the global average since the 1960s; there is a small but widespread increase in heat content of the Arctic Ocean’s waters and a larger increase of latent heat embodied in the ocean’s decreasi...

[1] The rate at which the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) responds to perturbations in temperature and moisture plays a fundamental role in determining climate sensitivity. This study examines the clear-sky OLR sensitivities to temperature and water vapor, as quantified by its partial derivatives (radiative Jacobians). The Jacobians, as computed by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (G...