The effect of clouds on the earth's solar and infared radiation budgets.

Abstract

The effect of global cloudiness on the solar and infrared components of the earth's radiation balance is studied in general circulation model experiments. We conclude that on a global basis clouds increase the global radiation balance by 40 W m-2 by absorbing longwave radiation, but decrease it by 56 W m-2 by reflecting solar radiation to space. The net cloud effect is therefore a reduction of the radiation balance by 16 W m-2, and is dominated by the cloud albedo effect.-from Authors