Quantifying Transition Zone Radiative Effects in Longwave Radiation Parameterizations

Abstract The change in the state of sky from cloudy to cloudless (or vice versa) comprises an additional phase called “transition zone,” in which the characteristics of the particle suspension lay between those corresponding to pure clouds and atmospheric aerosols. This phase, however, is usually considered, in atmospheric monitoring and modeling, as an area containing either aerosol or thin clouds. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to assess the longwave radiative effects resulting from different approximations to the transition zone for three radiation parameterizations included in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. The parameterizations produce important differences (up to 60 W m−2) between radiative effects of optically thin layers of aerosols and clouds (as surrogates for transition zone suspensions) in the longwave region, both at the top and bottom of the atmosphere. Also, differences are greater if the suspension of particles is located at higher altitudes, but smaller in high humidity conditions.