The importance of cloudsSlide 2Radiation in the climate systemSlide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8From global to local – range of scalesImpact of cloud type upon radiationSlide 11Slide 12Distribution of cloud typesRadiative effect of cloud typesFactors influencing cloud typesERBE net cloud forcingISCCP inferred St/Sc amountTropical-subtropical general circulationSlide 19Slide 20Slide 21Tight couplings between SST, winds, and cloudsClouds and precipitation associated with midlatitude cyclonesSlide 24Clouds and climate changeClouds in climate models - change in low cloud amount for 2CO2Slide 27Slide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Slide 32Slide 33Slide 34From the sublime….….to the ridiculous, but necessarySlide 37Slide 38The importance of cloudshttp://www.dkrz.de/dkrz/broschuere-eng/research/climatesystem.htmlThe Global Climate Systemhttp://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 40Combined satellite rainfall measurementsReflects locations of major precipitating cloud systemsspatiotemporal variabilityLatent Heatinghttp://www.dkrz.de/dkrz/broschuere-eng/research/water.htmlThe Global Hydrological CycleFrom global to local – range of scales1000 km 100 km 10 km 1 kmImpact of cloud type upon radiationImpact of cloud type upon radiationImpact of cloud type upon radiationDistribution of cloud typesTropical East PacificAnvilsMid-levelHighLowDeepconvectionStratocumulusRadiative effect of cloud typesMid-levelHighLowFactors influencing cloud typesERBE net cloud forcingSST anomaly from zonal meanISCCP inferred St/Sc amountTropical-subtropical general circulationfrom Randall et al., J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 125-130, 1980cold SSTwarm SSTSeasonal cycle of precipitationJan 2004Jul 2004Interannual variability of precipitationJan 1998Jan 1999El NiñoLa NiñaGlobal frequency and distribution of lightning as observed from spaceChristian et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2003.Tight couplings between SST, winds, and cloudsClouds and precipitation associated with midlatitude cycloneswarm conveyorOrographic precipitation enhancementClouds and climate changeClouds in climate models- change in low cloud amount for 2CO2from Stephens (2005)GFDLCCM model numberIPCC, 2007Pacific Northwest Projected River FlowCloud effects on atmospheric chemistry•Acidity of rain•Gas-particle conversion•Biogeochemical feedbacks to tropical cloud patternHobbs 2000Hobbs 2000Modeling clouds and precipitation•Forecasting of precipitation• Climate impactsFrom the sublime….10x10x5 m resolution20x20x3 km domainStevens et al. (2002)….to the ridiculous, but necessary3x3o resolution global domainclimateprediction.netHobbs 2000O3 photolyzed