Derivation of component aerosol direct radiative forcing at the top of...

Zhao, T., H. Yu, I. Laszlo, M. Chin, and W. C. Conant (2008), Derivation of component aerosol direct radiative forcing at the top of atmosphere for clear-sky oceans, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 109, 1162-1186.
Abstract: 

A two-step approach is proposed to derive component aerosol direct radiative forcing (ADRF) at the top of atmosphere (TOA) over global oceans from 60°S to 60°N for clear-sky condition by combining Terra CERES/MODIS-SSF shortwave (SW) flux and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) observations with the fractions of component AOTs from the GSFC/GOCART model. The derived global annual mean component ADRF is +0.08±0.17 W/m2 for black carbon, −0.52±0.24 W/m2 for organic carbon, −1.10±0.42 W/m2 for sulfate, −0.99±0.37 W/m2 for dust, −2.44±0.84 W/m2 for sea salt, and −4.98±1.67 W/m2 for total aerosols. The total ADRF has also been partitioned into anthropogenic and natural components with a value of −1.25±0.43 and −3.73±1.27 W/m2, respectively. The major sources of error in the estimates have also been discussed. The analysis adds an alternative technique to narrow the large difference between current model-based and observation-based global estimates of component ADRF by combining the satellite measurement with the model simulation.

Research Program: 
Atmospheric Composition Modeling and Analysis Program (ACMAP)