Darmstadt 2008 – scientific programme

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UP: Fachverband Umweltphysik

UP 12: Satellitengestützte Messungen

UP 12.4: Talk

Thursday, March 13, 2008, 12:30–12:45, 3B

Evaluating cloud fraction modelling with satellite observations — •Swen Metzger¹ and Ruediger Lang² — ¹Max-Planck-Institute fuer Chemie, Abt. Chemie der Atmosphaere, D-55128 Mainz — ²EUMETSAT, Am Kavallerisand 31, D-64295 Darmstadt

We apply the new concept of Metzger and Lelieveld (ACP, 2007) to model the cloud cover / cloud fractions (CFR) in a regional weather forecast model (COSMO-DE) and a global chemical-climate model (ECHAM5/MESSy). In contrast to the empirical approaches that are currently applied, the CFR is calculated here for the first time consistently from the total of aerosol water, cloud water/ice and precipitation. Various model simulations are evaluated against satellite and ground based observations. First results of the comparison indicate that this new approach improves indeed CFR calculations.

Metzger, S. and J. Lelieveld, Reformulating atmospheric aerosol thermodynamics and hygroscopic growth into fog, haze and clouds, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 3163-3193, http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/3163/2007/acp-7-3163-2007.html, 2007.