Stratocumulus clouds in a changing climate

Doctoral thesis (2015)

Authors

S. Dal Gesso Atmospheric Physics , Atmospheric Remote Sensing - CEG
Research Group
Atmospheric Physics
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Published Date

2015

Language

English

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Research Group

Atmospheric Physics

Abstract

The clouds that form in the atmospheric region close to the Earth surface work as a parasol for our planet. Their primary effect is to reflect the incoming solar radiation and in this way to cool the Earth. Tlie more extensive and the thicker they are, the more radiation is reflected back to space. The extension is generally quantified by the cloud cover. Stratocumulus is a low-level cloud type that presents a particularly high cloud cover (40%-60% compared to the global average value of 30%). To measure their thickness, the amount of water in liquid phase in the whole cloud, the liqidd water path, is considered.