Influence of cirrus clouds on weather and climate processes: a global perspective.

Abstract

To place the relevance and importance of cirrus composition, structure and radiative properties into a global perspective, we present pertinent results derived from simulation experiments utilizing models with varying degrees of complexity, which have been carried out for the investigation of the influence of cirrus clouds on the thermodynamics and dynamics of the atmosphere. Suggestions are outlined for cirrus-radiation research activities aimed toward the development and improvement of weather and climate models for a physical understanding of cause and effect relationships and for prediction purposes. -from Author