Frida Bender

• Stockholm University

Global storm-resolving models (GSRMs) are the upcoming global climate models. One of them is a 5-km Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic Weather and Climate Model (ICON). Its high resolution means that parameterizations of convection and clouds, including subgrid-scale clouds, are omitted, relying on explicit simulation but still utilizing microphysics and t...

Global storm-resolving models (GSRMs) are the next avenue of climate modelling. Among them is the 5-km Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic Weather and Climate Model (ICON). The high resolution allows for parameterizations of convection and clouds to be avoided. Standard-resolution models have substantial cloud biases over the Southern Ocean (SO), affecting...

Contemporary general circulation models and Earth system models are developed by a large group of modelling centres internationally. They use a broad range of implementations of climate dynamics and physical parametrisations, allowing for structural (code) uncertainty to be partially quantified with multi-model ensembles (MMEs). However, many model...

Currently, a new generation of km-scale resolution global climate models are in development as the forthcoming phase of climate modelling. One such model is a 5-km version of the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic Weather and Climate Model (ICON) developed jointly by Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) and the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M). Because...

Contemporary general circulation models (GCMs) and Earth system models (ESMs) are developed by a large number of modeling groups globally. They use a wide range of representations of physical processes, allowing for structural (code) uncertainty to be partially quantified with multi-model ensembles (MMEs). Many models in the MMEs of the Coupled Mod...

The Earth's albedo is observed to be symmetric between the hemispheres on the annual mean timescale, despite the clear-sky albedo being asymmetrically higher in the Northern Hemisphere due to more land area and aerosol sources; this is because the mean cloud distribution currently compensates for the clear-sky asymmetry almost exactly. We investiga...

The Earth’s albedo is observed to be symmetric between the hemispheres on the annual mean timescale, despite the clear-sky albedo being asymmetrically higher in the northern hemisphere due to more land area and aerosol sources; this is because the mean cloud distribution currently compensates for the clear-sky asymmetry almost exactly. We investiga...

To date, values are not widely acknowledged or discussed within physical climate science. Yet, effective management of values in physical climate science is required for the benefit of both science and society.

Despite the unequal partitioning of land and aerosol sources between the hemispheres, Earth’s albedo is observed to be persistently symmetric about the equator. This symmetry is determined by the compensation of clouds to the clear-sky albedo. Here, the variability of this interhemispheric albedo symmetry is explored by decomposing observed radiati...

We develop a deep convolutional neural network for determination of cloud types in low-resolution daily mean top-of-atmosphere shortwave and longwave radiation images, corresponding to the classical cloud types recorded by human observers in the Global Telecommunication System. We train this network on the CERES top of atmosphere radiation dataset,...

Presentation given at a FORCeS WP5 & WP6 Science Meeting, 2 September 2021.

Significance Threats to human livelihoods resulting from natural hazards are increasing due to climate change. Climate-related disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts have destroyed shelter, reduced crop yields, harmed livestock, and fueled conflict, especially in developing countries. The key finding is that UN aid in the aftermath of clima...

The vertical distribution of aerosols plays an important role in determining the effective radiative forcing from aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions. Here, a number of processes controlling the vertical distribution of aerosol in five subtropical marine stratocumulus regions in the climate model NorESM1-M are investigated, with a focu...

We use data derived from instruments onboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) and CloudSat satellites as well as meteorological parameters from reanalysis to explore situations when moist aerosol layers overlie stratocumulus clouds over the Southeast Atlantic during the biomass burning season (June to...

Significance Enhancement of aerosol that can nucleate cloud droplets increases the droplet number concentration and albedo of clouds. This increases the amount of sunlight reflected to space. Uncertainty in how aerosol−cloud interactions over the industrial period have increased planetary albedo by this mechanism leads to significant uncertainty in...

Methods for determining aerosol types in cases where chemical composition measurements are not available are useful for improved aerosol radiative forcing estimates. In this study, two aerosol characterization methods by Cazorla et al. (2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-9337-2013; CA13) and Costabile et al. (2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-...

Representing large-scale co-variability between variables related to aerosols, clouds and radiation is one of many aspects of agreement with observations desirable for a climate model. In this study such relations are investigated in terms of temporal correlations on monthly mean scale, to identify points of agreement and disagreement with observat...

The global aerosol extinction from the CALIOP space lidar was used to compute aerosol optical depth (AOD) over a 9-year period (2007–2015) and partitioned between the boundary layer (BL) and the free troposphere (FT) using BL heights obtained from the ERA-Interim archive. The results show that the vertical distribution of AOD does not follow the di...

Aerosol–cloud interactions are a major source of uncertainty in inferring the climate sensitivity from the observational record of temperature. The adjustment of clouds to aerosol is a poorly constrained aspect of these aerosol–cloud interactions. Here, we examine the response of midlatitude cyclone cloud properties to a change in cloud droplet num...

Cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) is the key state variable that moderates the relationship between aerosol and the radiative forcing arising from aerosol–cloud interactions. Uncertainty related to the effect of anthropogenic aerosol on cloud properties represents the largest uncertainty in total anthropogenic radiative forcing. Here we sho...

The global aerosol extinction from the CALIOP space lidar was used to compute aerosol optical depth (AOD) over a nine-year period (2007–2015) and partitioned between the boundary layer (BL) and the free troposphere (FT) using BL heights obtained from the ERA-Interim archive. The results show that the vertical distribution of AOD does not follow the...

Cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) is the key state variable that moderates the relationship between aerosol and the radiative forcing arising from aerosol-cloud interactions. Uncertainty related to the effect of anthropogenic aerosol on cloud properties represents the largest uncertainty in total anthropogenic radiative forcing. Here we sho...

Aerosol-cloud interactions are a major source of uncertainty in predicting 21st century climate change. Using high-resolution, convection-permitting global simulations we predict that increased cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) interacting with midlatitude cyclones will increase their cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC), liquid water (CLWP), an...

The effects of different aerosol types on cloud albedo are analysed using the linear relation between total albedo and cloud fraction found on a monthly mean scale in regions of subtropical marine stratocumulus clouds and the influence of simulated aerosol variations on this relation. Model experiments from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project...

The hemispheric symmetry of albedo and its contributing factors in satellite observations and global climate models is evaluated. The analysis is performed on the annual mean time scale, on which a bimodality in the joint distribution of albedo and cloud fraction is evident, resulting from tropical and subtropical clouds and midlatitude clouds, res...

Aerosol cloud interactions (ACI) represent a significant source of forcing uncertainty in GCMs. Estimates of radiative forcing due to ACI in AR5 range from -0.5 to -2.5 Wm-2. A portion of this uncertainty is related to the first indirect, or Twomey, effect whereby aerosols act as nuclei for cloud droplets to condense upon. At constant liquid water...

The effects of different aerosol types on cloud albedo are analyzed using the linear relation between total albedo and cloud fraction found on monthly mean scale in regions of subtropical marine stratocumulus clouds, and the influence of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) on this relation. Model experiments from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project p...

Significance The cooling effect of aerosols on climate and the modification of clouds by aerosols have been widely debated, because quantifying their effects is important for constraining current climate change. Here we present measurements of turbulence from unmanned aerial vehicles. We find that absorption of sunlight by black carbon (BC) aerosol...

Large-eddy simulation of a nocturnal stratocumulus-topped boundary layer in a continental mid-latitude environment has been performed to examine the sensitivity of the cloud to a number of different environmental parameters. The simulations showed that the stratocumulus cloud was strongly affected by the presence of an overlying free tropospheric c...

There are many contributing factors which determine the micro- and macrophysical properties of clouds, including atmospheric vertical structure, dominant meteorological conditions, and aerosol concentration, all of which may be coupled to one another. In the quest to determine aerosol effects on clouds, these potential relationships must be underst...

A detailed analysis of optical and microphysical properties of aerosol particles during the dry winter monsoon season above the northern Indian Ocean is presented. The Cloud Aerosol Radiative Forcing Experiment (CARDEX), conducted from 16 February to 30 March 2012 at the Maldives Climate Observatory on Hanimaadhoo island (MCOH) in the Republic of t...

We study the relation between monthly mean albedo and cloud fraction over ocean, 60°S-60°N. Satellite observations indicate that these clouds all fall on the same near-exponential curve, with a monotonic distribution over the ranges of cloud fractions and albedo. Using these observational data as a reference, we examine the degree to which 26 clima...

There are many contributing factors which determine the micro- and macrophysical properties of clouds, including atmospheric structure, dominant meteorological conditions, and aerosol concentration, all of which may be coupled to one another. In the quest to determine aerosol effects on clouds, these potential relationships must be understood, as c...

This study focuses on the radiative properties of five subtropical marine stratocumulus cloud regions, on monthly mean scale. Through examination of the relation between total albedo and cloud fraction, and its variability and relation to other parameters, some of the factors controlling the reflectivity, or albedo, of the clouds in these regions a...

Earth's albedo is the primary determinant of the amount of energy absorbed by the Earth-atmosphere system. It is a function of the fractional cloud cover and the cloudy- and clear-sky albedos, and thereby of the aerosol loading of the atmosphere. Here, we introduce a method by which we can examine the spatial distribution of the albedo variability...

A detailed analysis of optical and microphysical properties of aerosol particles during the dry winter monsoon season above the northern Indian Ocean is presented. The Cloud Aerosol Radiative Forcing Experiment (CARDEX), conducted in February and March 2012 at the Maldives Climate Observatory on Hanimaadhoo island (MCOH) in the Republic of the Mald...

The radiative properties of subtropical marine stratocumulus clouds are investigated in an ensemble of current-generation global climate models from phase 5 of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Using a previously documented method for determining regional mean cloud albedo, the authors find a closer agreement with observations in t...

Ground based or column integrated measurements only partially describe aerosols in air pollution studies and introduce uncertainties in column radiation parameters. A complete description of processes such as transport, radiative forcing, and aerosol-cloud interaction requires knowledge of the vertical distribution of aerosols. This paper presents...

Climate model simulations suggest that the extratropical storm tracks will shift poleward as a consequence of global warming. In this study the northern and southern hemisphere storm tracks over the Pacific and Atlantic ocean basins are studied using observational data, primarily from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project, ISCCP. Po...

In an ensemble of general circulation models, the global mean albedo significantly decreases in response to strong CO2 forcing. In some of the models, the magnitude of this positive feedback is as large as the CO2 forcing itself. The models agree well on the surface contribution to the trend, due to retreating snow and ice cover, but display large...

Planetary albedo the reflectivity for solar radiation is of singular importance in determining the amount of solar energy taken in by the Earth-atmosphere system. Modeling albedo, and specifically cloud albedo, correctly is crucial for realistic climate simulations. A method is presented herein by which regional cloud albedo can be quantified from...

This paper summarizes the discussions held during the session dedicated to Aerosol forcing at the Workshop Observing and Modelling Earth’s Energy Flows. The session Aerosol forcing was convened by P. Ingmann and J. Heintzenberg and included 10 presentations given by R. Kahn, D. Winker, U. Baltensperger, J. Haywood, S. Schwartz, J. Heintzenberg, H....

The albedo is a key parameter in the radiative budget of the Earth and a primary determinant of the planetary temperature and is therefore also central to questions regarding climate stability, climate change and climate sensitivity. Global climate models are essential for studying the albedo, and the parameters determining it (specifically clouds)...

The radiative flux perturbations and subsequent temperature responses in relation to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 are studied in the ten general circulation models incorporated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 3 (CMIP3), that include a parameterization of volcanic aerosol. Models and observations show decreases in globa...

A tuning experiment is carried out with the Community Atmosphere Model version 3, where the top-of-the-atmosphere radiative balance is tuned to agree with global satellite estimates from ERBE and CERES, respectively, to investigate if the climate sensitivity of the model is dependent upon which of the datasets is used. The tuning is done through al...

It has been long understood that the partly cloudy atmosphere manifests a continuum of states between the end members ‘clear’ and ‘cloud.’ Nevertheless, many research methods are premised on a dichotomy of states—for example, those that use ‘cloud cover’ or ‘cloud-clearing.’ Here we consider the consequences of this practice for studies of aerosol-...

ABSTRACTA comprehensive comparison of characteristics of the planetary albedo (α) in data from two satellite measurement campaigns (ERBE and CERES) and output from 20 GCMs, simulating the 20th-century climate, is performed. Discrepancies between different data sets and models exist; thus, it is clear that conclusions about absolute magnitude and ac...