The importance of cloudsThe Global Climate Systemhttp://www.dkrz.de/dkrz/broschuere-eng/research/climatesystem.htmlhttp://www.lwr.kth.se/Grundutbildning/1B1292/Compendium_online/ch05s01s02.htmlRadiation in the climate systemKiehl and Trenberth, BAMS, 1997Net cloud radiative effect from ERBE‐90 ‐70 ‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0 10 20 30 40Latent HeatingCombined satellite rainfall measurementsReflects locations of major precipitating cloud systemsspatiotemporal variabilityThe Global Hydrological Cyclehttp://www.dkrz.de/dkrz/broschuere-eng/research/water.htmlFrom global to local – range of scales1000 k100 k1000 km100 km10 km1 kmImpact of cloud type upon radiationImpact of cloud type upon radiationImpact of cloud type upon radiationDistribution of cloud typesDistribution of cloud typesAnvilsHighDeepconvectionTropicalTropical East PacificMid-levelLowStratocumulusRadiative effect of cloud typesHighMid-levelLowFactors influencing cloudFactors influencing cloud typesSST anomalySST anomaly from zonal meanERBE netERBE net cloud forcingISCCP inferred St/Sc amountTropical-subtropicalsubtropical general circulationfrom Randall et al., JAt SiJ. Atmos. Sci., 37, 125-130, 1980cold SSTwarm SSTSeasonal cycle of precipitationJan 2004Jul 2004Interannual variability of precipitationEl NiñoJan 1998La NiñaJan 1999Global frequency and distribution of lightning as observed from spaceobserved from spaceChristian et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2003.Tight couplings between SST,between SST, winds, and cloudscloudsClouds and precipitation associated with midlatitude cyclonesmidlatitude cycloneswarm conveyorOrographicOrographic precipitation enhancementClouds and climate changeClouds in climateGFDLclimate models- change in low cloud amountcloud amount for 2×CO2CCMfrom Stephens (2005)model numberIPCC, 2007Pacific Northwest Projected River FlowCloud effects on atmosphericCloud effects on atmospheric chemistry•Acidity of rain•Acidity of rain•Gas-particle conversionf•Biogeochemical feedbacks to tropical cloud patternt op ca c oud patteHobbs 2000Hobbs 2000Modeling clouds and precipitationModeling clouds and precipitation•Forecasting of precipitation•Climate impactsClimate impactsFrom the sublime….10x10x5 m resolution20x20x3 km20x20x3 km domainSt t l (2002)Stevens et al. (2002)….to the ridiculous, but necessary3x3oresolution3x3oresolutionglobal domainclimateprediction.netO3photolyzed OH Hobbs