Influences of Cloud Vertical Overlapping on the Calculated Cloud Albedo and Their Validation with Satellite Observations

Abstract

Abstract Cloud albedo is expected to influence cloud radiative forcing in addition to cloud fraction, and inadequate description of the cloud overlapping effects on the cloud fraction may influence the simulated cloud fraction, and thus the relative cloud radiative forcing (RCRF) and cloud albedo. In this study, we first present a new formula by extending that presented previously to consider multilayer clouds directly in the relationship between cloud albedo, cloud fraction, and RCRF, and then quantitatively evaluate the effects of different cloud vertical overlapping structures, represented by the decorrelation length scales (Lcf), on the simulated cloud albedos. We use the BCC_AGCM2.0_CUACE/Aero model with simultaneous validation by observations from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiation Energy System (CERES) satellite. When Lcf < 4 km (i.e., the cloud overlap is closer to the random overlap), the simulated cloud albedos are generally in good agreement with the satellite-based albedos for December–February and June–August; when Lcf ≥ 4 km (i.e., the cloud vertical overlap is closer to the maximum overlap), the difference between simulated and observed cloud albedos became larger, due mainly to significant differences in cloud fractions and RCRF. Further quantitative analysis shows that the relative Euclidean distance, which represents the degree of overall model–observation disagreement, increases with the Lcf for all three variables (cloud albedo, cloud fraction, and RCRF), indicating the importance of cloud vertical overlapping in determining the accuracy of the calculated cloud albedo for multilayer clouds. Significance Statement The purpose of this study is presenting a new formula to consider multilayer clouds directly in the relationship between cloud albedo, cloud fraction, and relative cloud radiative forcing (RCRF). This is important because the effects of different cloud vertical overlapping structures, represented by the decorrelation length scales (Lcf), can affect the simulated cloud albedos. Our results provide a guide on the importance of cloud vertical overlapping in determining the accuracy of the calculated cloud albedo for multilayer clouds.