A Functionalized Monte Carlo 3D Radiative Transfer Model: Radiative Effects of Clouds Over Reflecting Surfaces

Barker, Howard; Cole, Jason N. S.; Qu, Zhipeng

doi:10.1029/2023ms003674

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 45 publications

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“…Resolving 3D radiation more accurately is possible in academic setups, where specific mechanisms can be studied in a controlled manner. For example, Veerman et al (2022) coupled a 3D Monte Carlo ray tracer to a cloud-resolving model to study cumulus, Gristey et al (2022) used a similar technique but in an uncoupled setup to study cumulus with aerosol effects, Villefranque et al (2023) functionalised a ray tracer to study the effect of surface albedo on irradiance in cumulus fields, and Pincus and Evans (2009) demonstrated an alternative to ray tracing altogether. However, even in the best-studied case of boundary-layer shallow cumulus, one can question the realism with which large-eddy simulations (LESs) can resolve such clouds (Romps et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed patterns of surface solar irradiance under cloudy and clear‐sky conditions

Mol,

Heusinkveld,

Mangan

et al. 2024

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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Surface solar irradiance varies on scales as small as seconds or metres. This variability is driven mostly by wavelength‐dependent scattering by clouds, and to a lesser extent by aerosols and water vapour. The highly variable nature of solar irradiance is not resolved by most atmospheric models, yet it affects, most notably, the land–atmosphere coupling and the quality of solar energy forecasting. Characterising variability, understanding the mechanisms, and developing models capable of resolving it accurately requires spatially and spectrally resolved observational datasets of solar irradiance at high resolution, which are rare. In 2021, we deployed a network of low‐cost radiometers in the Field Experiment on submesoscale spatio‐temporal variability in Lindenberg (FESSTVaL, Germany) and Land surface Interactions with the Atmosphere over the Iberian Semi‐arid Environment (LIAISE, Spain) field campaigns to gather data on cloud‐driven surface patterns of irradiance, including spectral effects, with the aim of addressing this gap in observations and understanding. We find in case studies of cumulus, altocumulus, and cirrus clouds that these clouds generate large spatiotemporal variability in irradiance, but through different mechanisms and at different spatial scales, ranging from 50 m to 30 km. Spectral irradiance in the visible range varies at similar scales, with significant blue enrichment in cloud shadows, most strongly for cumulus, and red enrichment in irradiance peaks, particularly in the case of semitransparent clouds or near cumulus cloud edges. Under clear‐sky conditions, solar irradiance varies significantly in water‐vapour absorption bands at the minute scale, due to variability in atmospheric moisture in the boundary layer. With this study, we show that observing detailed spatiotemporal irradiance patterns is possible using a relatively small, low‐cost sensor network, and that such network observations can provide insight and validation for the development of models capable of resolving irradiance variability.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed patterns of surface solar irradiance under cloudy and clear‐sky conditions

Mol,

Heusinkveld,

Mangan

et al. 2024

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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Implications of the Mechanisms of the Mid-twentieth-Century Global Cooling in Its Impact on Agricultural Ecosystems and Climate Mitigation Strategies

Ahmadi,

Lackner

2024

Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

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Combining observations and simulations to investigate the small-scale variability of surface solar irradiance under continental cumulus clouds

He,

Libois,

Villefranque

et al. 2024

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth surface (surface solar irradiance, SSI) is critical for a variety of applications, ranging from surface–atmosphere interactions to solar energy. SSI is characterized by a large spatiotemporal variability, in particular in the presence of cumulus clouds. This results in complex spatial patterns of shadows and sunlight directly related to clouds' geometry and physical properties. Although key in many respects, the instantaneous spatial distribution of SSI remains largely unexplored. Here, we use unique observations from a dense network of pyranometers deployed during the HOPE field campaign to investigate the SSI spatial distribution. For cumulus scenes, bimodal distributions are found, with one mode corresponding to cloud shadows and the other to sunlit areas with enhanced SSI exceeding clear-sky values. Combining large-eddy simulations of cumulus clouds with Monte Carlo ray tracing, we demonstrate the capability of advanced numerical tools to reproduce the observed distributions and quantify the impact of cloud geometrical and physical properties on both modes. In particular, cloud cover strongly modulates their amplitudes, in addition to their position and width, which are also sensitive to cloud height, geometrical depth, and liquid water content. Combining observations and simulations, we also explore sampling strategies to estimate the SSI spatial distribution with a limited number of sensors, suggesting that 10 pyranometers integrated over 10 min can capture most details of the full distribution. Such a strategy could be used for future campaigns to further investigate SSI distributions and their impact on land–atmosphere exchanges or photovoltaic farm management.

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A Functionalized Monte Carlo 3D Radiative Transfer Model: Radiative Effects of Clouds Over Reflecting Surfaces

Cited by 3 publications

References 45 publications

Observed patterns of surface solar irradiance under cloudy and clear‐sky conditions

Observed patterns of surface solar irradiance under cloudy and clear‐sky conditions

Implications of the Mechanisms of the Mid-twentieth-Century Global Cooling in Its Impact on Agricultural Ecosystems and Climate Mitigation Strategies

Combining observations and simulations to investigate the small-scale variability of surface solar irradiance under continental cumulus clouds

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