| Summary: | Significant uncertainties in the prediction of future warming in the Arctic arise from our lack of understanding of governing processes, including cloud radiative feedbacks. The present study compares preliminary simulations of 1D radiative fluxes based on the Cloudnet and ShupeTurner cloud retrievals for the yearlong Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. The analysis is conducted in the context of a radiative closure study at the surface and the top-of-the atmosphere for the upward and downward broadband solar and terrestrial radiative fluxes. The consistency of our simulations and satellite-based estimates from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) are analysed by considering several atmospheric and surface-type conditions. Particular focus is given to the effect of clouds on the radiation budget. Based on our simulations and CERES estimates, we find that clouds increase the net radiative fluxes at the surface by about 35.5 W/m² for the entire MOSAiC expedition period. Nevertheless, based on in-situ observations, it is argued that significant uncertainties in the solar and terrestrial affect this estimate of cloud radiative effects. Our research will also address the spatiotemporal variability of clouds and how this might impact the comparison between the point-like ground measurements with the CERES satellite footprint.
|
|---|