Trends of Cloud Optical Thickness and Cloud Effective Radius Variation in China
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Abstract:
The temporal and spatial characteristics of clouds over China are analyzed by using the ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) monthly mean D2 data and MODIS (MODerateresolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)cloud data. The results show that over the past 20 years, the changes in cloud effective radius have the greatest effect on cloud optical thickness during summer, which means that the indirect effect of aerosol on climate may be the strongest during summer. The analysis of cloud optical thickness and effective radius changes also shows that the Yangtze River region and the QinghaiTibet Plateau region may be the areas influenced the most prominently by the indirect climatic effects of aerosols. Besides, the ice cloud optical thickness and effective diameter are associated with strong regional characteristics in China, which indicates that microphysical mechanisms in ice clouds are more complex than water clouds.