On the effects of cumulus dimensions on longwave irradiance and heating rate calculations.

Abstract

A model of a cumulus cloud field, parameterized as right circular cylinders, has been used to estimate the uncertainties in longwave radiation calculations of irradiances and heating rates caused by neglecting the dimensions of the clouds. The results show that the irradiances and heating rates are nonlinear functions of the absolute cloud amount, height to radius ratio, and the cloud base and top altitudes.-from Author