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Cited by 437Atmospheric aerosols and cloudsMeteorological Phenomena and SimulationsClimate variability and models

Surface irradiances consistent with CERES-derived top-of-atmosphere shortwave and longwave irradiances.

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Kato, Seiji, Loeb, Norman G., Rose, Fred G., Doelling, David R., Rutan, David A., Caldwell, Thomas E., Yu, Lisan, Weller, Robert A.·2013·Journal of Climate
DOI 10.1175/jcli-d-12-00436.1
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Abstract

The estimate of surface irradiance on a global scale is possible through radiative transfer calculations using satellite-retrieved surface, cloud, and aerosol properties as input. Computed top-of-atmosphere (TOA) irradiances, however, do not necessarily agree with observation-based values, for example, from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). This paper presents a method to determine surface irradiances using observational constraints of TOA irradiance from CERES. A Lagrange multiplier procedure is used to objectively adjust inputs based on their uncertainties such that the computed TOA irradiance is consistent with CERES-derived irradiance to within the uncertainty. These input adjustments are then used to determine surface irradiance adjustments. Observations by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), CloudSat, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) that are a part of the NASA A-Train constellation provide the uncertainty estimates. A comparison with surface observations from a number of sites shows that the bias [root-mean-square (RMS) difference] between computed and observed monthly mean irradiances calculated with 10 years of data is 4.7 (13.3) W m−2 for downward shortwave and −2.5 (7.1) W m−2 for downward longwave irradiances over ocean and −1.7 (7.8) W m−2 for downward shortwave and −1.0 (7.6) W m−2 for downward longwave irradiances over land. The bias and RMS error for the downward longwave and shortwave irradiances over ocean are decreased from those without constraint. Similarly, the bias and RMS error for downward longwave over land improves, although the constraint does not improve downward shortwave over land. This study demonstrates how synergetic use of multiple instruments (CERES, MODIS, CALIPSO, CloudSat, AIRS, and geostationary satellites) improves the accuracy of surface irradiance computations.

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  • In situ data are crucial for anchoring global efforts to develop a global climate observing system and to discriminate the imbalance in the Earth's radiation budget as the climate warms.

    “In situ data are crucial for anchoring global efforts to develop a global climate observing system (Weatherhead et al., 2018) and discriminate the imbalance in the Earth's radiation budget as the climate warms (Kato et al., 2013).”

    From The tropical atlantic observing system (2019) · cites this paper as Kato et al., 2013

    Section 7, “Comparison with surface observations” (page not supplied), uses land-site and buoy measurements to evaluate estimated surface irradiances, supporting a role for in situ data. The Introduction discusses changes in the atmospheric energy budget, but the paper does not establish that in situ data discriminate an imbalance in Earth’s radiation budget as the climate warms. The separate observing-system clause is attributed to Weatherhead et al., not Kato et al. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Research works printed but not linked: 21

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Authors
Kato, S., Loeb, N. G., Rose, F. G., Doelling, D. R., Rutan, D. A., Caldwell, T. E., Yu, L., & Weller, R. A.
Affiliations
  • Langley Research Center (US)
  • Science Systems and Applications (United States) (US)
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Climate
Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Published
2013-04-26
Volume
26
Issue
9
Pages
2719-2740
ISSN
  • 0894-8755 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-0442
DOI
10.1175/jcli-d-12-00436.1
OpenAlex
W2098654177
Cited by
437
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
17.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Climate (publishedVersion)
  • Open Access Server of the Woods Hole Scientific Community (Woods Hole Scientific Community) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
Keywords
surface irradiance, top-of-atmosphere irradiance, Ceres, shortwave radiation, longwave radiation, radiative transfer, Lagrange multiplier optimization, A-Train constellation

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