Aerosol-stratocumulus-radiation Interactions over Southeast Pacific and Their Implications to SST

Abstract:

Aerosol-stratocumulus-radiation interactions over Southeast Pacific and their implications to SST

CMIP5 models commonly simulate warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over stratocumulus-topped regions (e.g., Southeast Pacific, SEP), which is consistent with the underestimation of radiative forcing by stratocumulus. Recently we used WRF model together with VOCALS observations to illustrate that the aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions may lessen the SST bias. However, that study used prescribed SST and thus did not allow proper atmosphere-ocean coupling, which past studies have shown to be important. Here we further examine the aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction by allowing SST feedback, using the WRF model coupled with a simple ocean-mixed layer scheme.The study will provide insight into the importance of SST feedback to the aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction.