Impact of Cloud Vertical Overlap on Cloud Radiative Effect in the Korean Integrated Model (KIM) Seasonal Simulations during Boreal Summer and Winter

Abstract

Exponential-random vertical overlap of clouds is applied for radiative processes in a research version of the Korean Integrated Model (KIM) to replace the maximum-random vertical overlap of clouds. The cloud radiative effect (CRE) increases overall when the exponential-random overlap is used. This is because vertically continuous clouds, which are assumed to overlap maximally under the maximum-random overlap assumption, can be relaxed to random overlap depending on the vertical distance between cloud layers and the specified decorrelation length of clouds. CRE is more enhanced by considering the latitudinal dependency of cloud decorrelation length based on previous observational studies. This alleviates biases in CRE, which is underestimated overall, except in the low latitudes where the CRE is overestimated in the present simulations. The interaction between radiative and convective processes plays a role in decreasing CRE over the tropical western Pacific region, where strong convections develop, although the direct impact of applying the exponential-random overlap is to decrease the vertical overlap between ice clouds. The simulation of temperature in the lower troposphere is improved owing to the changes in cloud overlap. The warm bias over the Eurasian continent, in particular, is alleviated as more shortwave fluxes are reflected due to increased CRE.