Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems

In this study, we evaluate aerosol, cloud, and radiation interactions in GFS.V17.p8 (Global Forecast System System Version 17 prototype 8). Two experiments were conducted for the summer of 2020. In the control experiment (EXP CTL), aerosols interact with radiation only, incorporating direct and semi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anning Cheng, Fanglin Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Meteorology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-0494/4/2/14
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849705052875259904
author Anning Cheng
Fanglin Yang
author_facet Anning Cheng
Fanglin Yang
author_sort Anning Cheng
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we evaluate aerosol, cloud, and radiation interactions in GFS.V17.p8 (Global Forecast System System Version 17 prototype 8). Two experiments were conducted for the summer of 2020. In the control experiment (EXP CTL), aerosols interact with radiation only, incorporating direct and semi-direct aerosol effects. The sensitivity experiment (EXP ACI) couples aerosols with both radiation and Thompson microphysics, accounting for aerosol indirect effects and fully interactive aerosol–cloud dynamics. Introducing aerosol and cloud interactions results in net cooling at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). Further analysis shows that the EXP ACI produces more liquid water at lower levels and less ice water at higher levels compared to the EXP CTL. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) shows a good linear relationship with cloud droplet number concentration, similar to other climate models, though with larger standard deviations. Including aerosol and cloud interactions generally enhances simulations of the Indian Summer Monsoon, stratocumulus, and diurnal cycles. Additionally, the study evaluates the impacts of aerosols on deep convection and cloud life cycles.
format Article
id doaj-art-c91d1fba7d034a42b92d3f79c02abcaf
institution DOAJ
issn 2674-0494
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Meteorology
spelling doaj-art-c91d1fba7d034a42b92d3f79c02abcaf2025-08-20T03:16:34ZengMDPI AGMeteorology2674-04942025-05-01421410.3390/meteorology4020014Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast SystemsAnning Cheng0Fanglin Yang1Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, College Park, MD 20740, USAEnvironmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, College Park, MD 20740, USAIn this study, we evaluate aerosol, cloud, and radiation interactions in GFS.V17.p8 (Global Forecast System System Version 17 prototype 8). Two experiments were conducted for the summer of 2020. In the control experiment (EXP CTL), aerosols interact with radiation only, incorporating direct and semi-direct aerosol effects. The sensitivity experiment (EXP ACI) couples aerosols with both radiation and Thompson microphysics, accounting for aerosol indirect effects and fully interactive aerosol–cloud dynamics. Introducing aerosol and cloud interactions results in net cooling at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). Further analysis shows that the EXP ACI produces more liquid water at lower levels and less ice water at higher levels compared to the EXP CTL. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) shows a good linear relationship with cloud droplet number concentration, similar to other climate models, though with larger standard deviations. Including aerosol and cloud interactions generally enhances simulations of the Indian Summer Monsoon, stratocumulus, and diurnal cycles. Additionally, the study evaluates the impacts of aerosols on deep convection and cloud life cycles.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-0494/4/2/14aerosolcloudand radiation interactionsNWP modelsaerosol direct effectsaerosol indirect effects
spellingShingle Anning Cheng
Fanglin Yang
Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
Meteorology
aerosol
cloud
and radiation interactions
NWP models
aerosol direct effects
aerosol indirect effects
title Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
title_full Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
title_fullStr Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
title_full_unstemmed Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
title_short Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Interactions in the NCEP Unified Forecast Systems
title_sort aerosol clouds and radiation interactions in the ncep unified forecast systems
topic aerosol
cloud
and radiation interactions
NWP models
aerosol direct effects
aerosol indirect effects
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-0494/4/2/14
work_keys_str_mv AT anningcheng aerosolcloudsandradiationinteractionsinthencepunifiedforecastsystems
AT fanglinyang aerosolcloudsandradiationinteractionsinthencepunifiedforecastsystems