Parameterization of outgoing infrared radiation derived from detailed radiative calculations.

Abstract

State-of-the-art radiative transfer models can calculate outgoing infrared (IR) irradiance at the top of the atmosphere (F) to an accuracy suitable for climate modeling given the proper atmospheric profiles of temperature and absorbing gases and aerosols. However, such sophisticated methods are computationally time consuming and ill-suited for simple vertically-averaged models or diagnostic studies. We develop a parameterization of climatological F by curve-fitting the results of a detailed radiative transfer model; the parameterization comprises clear-sky and cloudy-sky terms. - from Authors