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Corsetti, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Corsetti, T..

6 records
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NASA NTRS1985

Analysis of a Simulated Cloud Climatology

Cloudiness simulations with the UCLA/Goddard general circulation model were analyzed by comparison of simulated and radiation statistics with corresponding observations. A description of the model formulation is given by Suarez et al. (1983), and some results are discussed by Randall et al. (1985). The global mean cloudiness is near 50%, in agreement with observations. However, comparison with the satellite observations of Susskind et al. (1983) shows that the model produces too many low level clouds at high latitudes and too few high clouds in the tropics. The simulated outgoing longwave radiation at the top of the atmosphere is too low in middle and high latitudes, and much too high in regions of deep convection. The most serious deficiency of the current model's cloudiness simulation is its gross underprediction of the cirrus cloudiness associated with deep convection.

Randall, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Moist Available Energy of a Conditionally Unstable Atmosphere

Two simple methods for computing the moist available energy for cases in which the total number of parcels is fairly small are discussed. The first is a swapping routine that finds the reference state by exchanging parcels whenever the swap reduces the total enthalpy. However, it can be proved by contrived example that the swapping algorithm does not always find the true reference state. A second brute force routine actually examines all possible arrangements of the parcels and chooses the one with the smallest moist enthalpy. At present, both routines allow only horizontally homogeneous reference states. In an exploratory study, the swapping routine was used to find MAE and reference state for a time sequence of GATE soundings, all of which are conditionally unstable. In spot checks, the brute force routine always agreed with the swapper. Results show that in passing from the given state of the reference state the lowest three hundred mb of the atmosphere typically exchanges places with the 300 mb above it. The reference state then contains a dry warm layer near the surface, but a supersaturated but cool layer in the middle troposphere. The upper portion of the sounding is not modified in passing from the given state to the reference state.

Randall, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Preliminary GCM Results with a New Radiation Parameterization

A new parameterization of solar and terrestrial radiation was developed and tested. The solar radiation parameterization is based on that of Lacis and Hansen (1974), but with zenith-angle-dependent surface albedoes, and revised treatments of cloudiness. The terrestrial radiation parameterization is based on the work of Chou (1984) for water vapor, Chou and Peng (1983) for carbon dioxide, and Rogers (1968) for ozone, with a new parameterization of the effects of clouds. Results obtained were compared with the new parameterizations to those obtained with the earlier parameterization described by Schlessinger (1976). Several dramatic improvements came to light. For the most part these are related to the fact that the new terrestrial radiation paramerization includes the effects of the water vapor continuum, while the earlier parameterization does not. In the moist tropical planetary boundary layer (PBL) continuum emission leads to much stronger cooling of the PBL over the oceans. Over land, however, the cooling of the PBL is significantly reduced. The latter, somewhat paradoxical result is due to the strong diurnal cycle of the continental PBL. At night the shallow continental PBL is overlain by a moist layer created by mixing during the previous afternoon. The moist upper layer acts as a radiative blanket, reducing the time-averaged radiative cooling of the continental PBL.

Randall, D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Longwave radiation parameterization for UCLA/GLAS GCM

This document describes the parameterization of longwave radiation in the UCLA/GLAS general circulation model. Transmittances have been computed from the work of Arking and Chou for water vapor and carbon dioxide and ozone absorptances are computed using a formula due to Rodgers. Cloudiness has been introduced into the code in a manner in which fractional cover and random or maximal overlap can be accommodated. The entire code has been written in a form that is amenable to vectorization on CYBER and CRAY computers. Sample clear sky computations for five standard profiles using the 15- and 9-level versions of the model have been included.

HARSHVARDHAN↗
NASA NTRS1984

Development and preliminary tests of a new long-wave radiation parameterization

An efficient broad band longwave radiation code for CO2 and H2O and for O3 was developed. There are two bands each in the CO2 and H2O absorption regions, one for the band center and one for the band wings. One band covers O3 absorption and the overlapping H2O continuum. Overlap is also considered in the CO2 region, and there is H2O continuum absorption where applicable. Clouds are considered nonreflecting in the longwave. Therefore partial cover or partial transmission can be allowed for, by considering a cloud fraction at each atmospheric level. A special subroutine was written to allow for maximum or random overlap of clouds that may be used in the future. All algorithms were written with vectorization in mind with identical operations made for all horizontal grid points in a latitude circle. Where possible, operations are carried out covering the vertical grid points as well, yielding long vectors for efficient computations.

HARSHVARDHAN↗