Wyoming researchers find cloud reflectivity changes climate effects

Marine clouds affect global temperature

Sunlight is reflected back into space by low clouds hovering above eastern subtropical oceans, which significantly impacts global temperatures. To study cloud reactions, researchers evaluated 250 variations of a current climate model. They found that similar changes in coverage can have very different climate effects depending on reflectivity. The research further highlighted an ongoing issue concerning the reaction of modeled clouds to breezes shifting over sea areas possessing varying heat levels.

Team used E3SMv3 model

The research team utilized the Energy Exascale Earth System Model version 3 for testing cloud simulations. This computer representation was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to simulate interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, land and ice. Testing occurred from February through August using Derecho and Casper computing systems at the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center. Analyses of the principal simulations and satellite data span the years between 2010 and 2016.

Myers explains model evaluation needs

According to Timothy Myers, assessing climate models demands an analysis of cloud transformations and their reflectivity prior to any modifications. He noted implications for assessing cloud feedback and future warming based on these findings. Associate research scientists Travis Aerenson and Jacqueline Nugent contributed to the paper along with Hunter Brown and Daniel McCoy. Mark Zelinka from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory also contributed to the work.