Abstract.
Many
studies
using
climatological
data
of
liquid
water
path
(LWP)
and
droplet
concentration
(Nd)
find
an
inverted-V
relationship,
where
LWP
increases
then
decreases
with
Nd.
Our
findings
suggest
that
while
these
responses
to
changes
in
Nd
align
proposed
causal
mechanisms,
such
as
entrainment
evaporation
feedback
precipitation
suppression,
the
is
primarily
driven
by
co-variability
between
This
arises
from
meteorological
conditions
microphysical
processes,
each
independently
affecting
opposite
directions.
We
further
demonstrate
relationship
reflects
evolution
Stratocumulus
clouds
(Sc).
Therefore,
background
anthropogenic
should,
principle,
be
manifested
across
entire
Sc
climatology
along
its
evolution.
Instantaneous
response
derived
ship
tracks,
or
other
similar
natural
experiments,
may
therefore
not
accurately
represent
response.
because
local
perturbations
plausible
Nd,
which
varies
depending
on
cloud
state
Abstract
Reduction
in
aerosol
cooling
unmasks
greenhouse
gas
warming,
exacerbating
the
rate
of
future
warming.
The
strict
sulfur
regulation
on
shipping
fuel
implemented
2020
(IMO2020)
presents
an
opportunity
to
assess
potential
impacts
such
emission
regulations
and
detectability
deliberate
perturbations
for
climate
intervention.
Here
we
employ
machine
learning
capture
cloud
natural
variability
estimate
a
radiative
forcing
+0.074
±0.005
W
m
−2
related
IMO2020
associated
with
changes
shortwave
effect
over
three
low-cloud
regions
where
routes
prevail.
We
find
low
this
event,
attributed
strong
albedo
cover.
Regionally,
is
higher
southeastern
Atlantic
stratocumulus
deck.
These
results
raise
concerns
that
reductions
emissions
will
accelerate
warming
proposed
as
marine
brightening
need
be
substantial
order
overcome
detectability.
Geophysical Research Letters,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
51(11)
Published: June 6, 2024
Abstract
Aerosol‐cloud
interactions
(ACI)
in
warm
clouds
are
the
primary
source
of
uncertainty
effective
radiative
forcing
(ERF)
during
historical
period
and,
by
extension,
inferred
climate
sensitivity.
The
ERF
due
to
ACI
(ERFaci)
is
composed
changes
cloud
microphysics
and
adjustments
microphysics.
Here,
we
examine
processes
that
drive
ERFaci
using
a
perturbed
parameter
ensemble
(PPE)
hosted
CAM6.
Observational
constraints
on
PPE
result
substantial
response
macrophysics
anthropogenic
aerosol,
but
only
minimal
constraint
ERFaci.
Examination
radiation
reveal
buffering
interaction
precipitation
efficiency
susceptibility.
Atmospheric chemistry and physics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
24(18), P. 10425 - 10440
Published: Sept. 19, 2024
Abstract.
Marine
low-level
clouds
are
key
to
the
Earth's
energy
budget
due
their
expansive
coverage
over
global
oceans
and
high
reflectance
of
incoming
solar
radiation.
Their
responses
anthropogenic
aerosol
perturbations
remain
largest
source
uncertainty
in
estimating
radiative
forcing
climate.
A
major
challenge
is
quantification
cloud
water
response
perturbations.
In
particular,
presence
feedbacks
through
microphysical,
dynamical,
thermodynamical
pathways
at
various
spatial
temporal
scales
could
augment
or
weaken
response.
Central
this
problem
evolution
adjustment,
governed
by
entangled
feedback
mechanisms.
We
apply
an
innovative
conditional
Monte
Carlo
subsampling
approach
a
large
ensemble
diurnal
large-eddy
simulation
non-precipitating
marine
stratocumulus
study
role
heating
governing
relationship
between
droplet
number
water.
find
persistent
negative
trend
night,
confirming
that
microphysically
enhanced
cloud-top
entrainment.
After
sunrise,
appears
buffered
converges
∼-0.2
late
afternoon.
This
buffering
effect
attributed
strong
dependence
cloud-layer
shortwave
absorption
on
liquid
path.
These
cycle
characteristics
further
demonstrate
tight
connection
brightening
potential
which
has
implications
for
impact
timing
advertent
Geophysical Research Letters,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
52(2)
Published: Jan. 23, 2025
Abstract
We
present
for
the
first
time
within
cloud
physics
context,
application
of
wavelet
phase
coherence
analysis
to
disentangle
counteracting
physical
processes
associated
with
lead‐lag
difference
between
cloud‐proxy
liquid
water
path
(LWP)
and
aerosol‐proxy
droplet
number
concentration
(
N
d
)
in
an
Eulerian
framework
using
satellite‐based
observations
climate
model
outputs.
This
approach
allows
us
identify
causality
dominant
adjustment
timescales
governing
correlation
LWP
.
Satellite
indicate
a
more
prevalent
positive
daytime
regardless
whether
leads
or
lags
The
response,
precipitation
processes,
typically
occurs
1
hr,
while
negative
response
resulting
from
entrainment
drying,
usually
takes
2–4
hr.
CAM6
displays
excessively
rapid
responses
along
overly
strong
insufficient
leading
compared
observations.
Atmospheric chemistry and physics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
25(6), P. 3413 - 3423
Published: March 21, 2025
Abstract.
Climatological
data
of
the
liquid
water
path
(LWP)
and
droplet
concentration
(Nd)
often
reveal
an
inverted-V
relationship,
where
LWP
increases
then
decreases
as
Nd
increases.
Our
findings
show
that
while
this
response
to
increase
in
aligns
with
proposed
causal
mechanisms,
such
entrainment
evaporation
feedback
precipitation
suppression,
pattern
is
primarily
driven
by
co-variability
between
Nd.
This
arises
from
(1)
large-scale
meteorology,
which
controls
both
Nd,
causing
them
vary
opposite
directions
simultaneously,
(2)
microphysical
processes,
typically
accompanied
a
decrease
Consequently,
we
suggest
sensitivity
should
not
be
used
evidence
for
positive
radiative
forcing
through
adjustments
aerosols
it
largely
explained
co-variability.
We
further
demonstrate
relationship
essentially
reflects
climatological
evolution
Stratocumulus
clouds
(Sc).
Therefore,
background
anthropogenic
changes
should,
principle,
reflected
redistribution
occurrences
across
inverted
V
maintaining
its
shape.
Geophysical Research Letters,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
52(7)
Published: April 1, 2025
Abstract
The
idea
of
cooling
the
Earth
by
marine
cloud
brightening
is
well
established.
All
prior
studies
considered
enhancing
albedo
only
with
fine
aerosols
(FA).
Adding
coarse
sea
spray
(CSA,
radius>1
μm)
has
been
thought
to
have
opposite
effect.
Using
nearly
a
decade
satellite
observations
and
global
aerosol
reanalysis,
we
found
that
maximum
radiative
effect
from
stratocumulus
occurs
when
FA
around
3
μg
m
−3
CSA
30
.
Under
low
winds
high
stability
conditions,
optimal
can
enhance
−95
W
−2
,
60%
more
than
adding
alone.
This
CRE
response
was
consistently
observed
across
various
cloud‐controlling
factors,
thus
minimizing
probability
being
caused
meteorological
co‐variability.
These
findings
improve
our
understanding
how
different
affect
Earth's
climate,
evaluation
achieved
through
brightening,
support
its
feasibility.
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
17(4)
Published: April 1, 2025
Abstract
A
neural
network
(NN)
surrogate
of
the
NASA
GISS
ModelE
atmosphere
(version
E3)
is
trained
on
a
perturbed
parameter
ensemble
(PPE)
spanning
45
physics
parameters
and
36
outputs.
The
NN
leveraged
in
Markov
Chain
Monte
Carlo
(MCMC)
Bayesian
inference
framework
to
generate
second
posterior
constrained
coined
“calibrated
ensemble,”
or
CPE.
CPE
members
are
characterized
by
diverse
combinations
are,
definition,
close
top‐of‐atmosphere
radiative
balance,
must
broadly
agree
with
numerous
hydrologic,
energy
cycle
forcing
metrics
simultaneously.
Global
observations
cloud,
environment,
radiation
properties
(provided
global
satellite
products)
crucial
for
generation.
explicitly
accounts
discrepancies
(or
biases)
products
during
We
demonstrate
that
product
strongly
impact
calibration
important
model
settings
(e.g.,
convective
plume
entrainment
rates;
fall
speed
cloud
ice).
Structural
improvements
new
E3
retained
across
stratocumulus
simulation).
Notably,
improved
simulation
shallow
cumulus
Amazon
rainfall
while
not
degrading
fields,
an
upgrade
neither
default
nor
Latin
Hypercube
searching
achieved.
Analyses
initial
PPE
suggested
several
were
unimportant
output
variation.
However,
many
“unimportant”
needed
generation,
result
brings
forefront
how
importance
should
be
determined
PPEs.
From
CPE,
two
45‐dimensional
configurations
radiatively‐balanced,
auto‐tuned
atmospheres
used
submissions
CMIP6.
Atmospheric chemistry and physics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
25(8), P. 4547 - 4570
Published: April 25, 2025
Abstract.
Aerosol–cloud
interactions
(ACIs)
are
the
largest
source
of
uncertainty
in
inferring
magnitude
future
warming
consistent
with
observational
record.
The
effective
radiative
forcing
due
to
ACI
(ERFaci)
is
dominated
by
liquid
clouds
and
composed
two
terms:
change
cloud
albedo
redistributing
over
a
larger
number
droplets
(Nd)
macrophysical
properties
changes
microphysics.
These
terms
are,
respectively,
referred
as
(RFaci)
aerosol–cloud
adjustments.
While
RFaci
uncertain,
its
sign
confidently
negative
results
cooling
historical
In
contrast,
adjustment
water
path
(LWP)
enhanced
Nd
associated
uncertain
sign.
Increased
LWP
response
increased
precipitation
suppression,
while
decreased
evaporation
from
top.
Observational
constraints
these
processes
poor
part
because
causal
ambiguity
relationship
between
LWP.
To
better
understand
this
relationship,
(P),
Nd,
surface
observations
Eastern
North
Atlantic
(ENA)
atmospheric
observatory
combined
output
perturbed
parameter
ensemble
(PPE)
hosted
Community
Atmosphere
Model
version
6
(CAM6).
This
allows
for
interpretation
observed
covariability.
Observations
ENA
constrain
range
possible
adjustments
relative
prior
PPE
15
%,
resulting
global
value
that
positive
(a
cooling)
ranging
2.1
6.9
g
m−2.
It
found
covariability
coalescence
scavenging
not
strongly
related
Atmospheric chemistry and physics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
25(3), P. 1533 - 1543
Published: Feb. 4, 2025
Abstract.
The
response
in
cloud
water
content
to
changes
condensation
nuclei
remains
one
of
the
major
uncertainties
determining
how
aerosols
can
perturb
properties.
In
this
study,
we
used
an
ensemble
large
eddy
simulations
marine
stratocumulus
clouds
investigate
correlation
between
liquid
path
(LWP)
and
amount
nuclei.
We
compare
directly
from
model
derived
using
equations
which
are
retrieve
satellite
observations.
Our
comparison
shows
that
spatial
variability
properties
instrumental
noise
retrievals
optical
depth
effective
radii
results
bias
satellite-derived
path.
In-depth
investigation
high-resolution
data
part
a
cloud,
assumption
adiabaticity
does
not
hold,
similar
LWP–CDNC
(cloud
droplet
number
concentration)
relationship
as
seen
data.
addition,
our
analysis
significant
positive
18
%
40
concentration.
However,
for
individual
members,
mean
was
very
methods.
This
suggests
if
cases
carefully
chosen
meteorological
conditions
it
is
ensured
concentrations
well-defined,
be
confidently
determined
Atmospheric chemistry and physics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
24(23), P. 13633 - 13652
Published: Dec. 11, 2024
Abstract.
General
circulation
models
(GCMs),
unlike
other
lines
of
evidence,
indicate
that
anthropogenic
aerosols
cause
a
global-mean
increase
in
cloud
liquid
water
path
(ℒ)
and
thus
negative
adjustment
to
radiative
forcing
the
climate
by
aerosol–cloud
interactions.
In
part
1
this
series
papers,
we
showed
is
true
even
reproduce
correlation
observed
present-day
internal
variability
ℒ
droplet
number
concentration
(Nd).
We
studied
several
possible
confounding
mechanisms
could
explain
noncausal
cloud–aerosol
correlations
GCMs
possibly
contaminate
observational
estimates
adjustments.
Here,
perform
single-column
full-atmosphere
GCM
experiments
investigate
causal
model-physics
underlying
model
estimate.
find
both
interaction
thought
be
operating
real
clouds
–
precipitation
suppression
entrainment
evaporation
enhancement
are
active
behave
qualitatively
agreement
with
physical
process
understanding.
However,
modeled
has
negligible
effect.
This
raises
question
whether
estimate
incorrect
due
parametric
or
base-state
representation
errors
understanding
gleaned
from
limited
set
canonical
cases
insufficiently
representative
diversity
climate.
Regardless,
at
resolution,
physics
appears
able
parameterize
small-scale
microphysics–turbulence
interplay
responsible
for
mechanism.
suggest
ways
resolve
tension
between
current
future
(storm-resolving)
global
modeling
systems
evidence
synthesis
projections.