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Grandey, BS; Stier, P (2010). A critical look at spatial scale choices in satellite-based aerosol indirect effect studies. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, 10(23), 11459-11470.

Abstract
Analysing satellite datasets over large regions may introduce spurious relationships between aerosol and cloud properties due to spatial variations in aerosol type, cloud regime and synoptic regime climatologies. Using MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data, we calculate relationships between aerosol optical depth tau(a), derived liquid cloud droplet effective number concentration Ne and liquid cloud droplet effective radius r(e) at different spatial scales. Generally, positive values of dlnN(e)/dln tau(a) are found for ocean regions, whilst negative values occur for many land regions. The spatial distribution of dlnr(e)/dln tau(a) shows approximately the opposite pattern, with generally postive values for land regions and negative values for ocean regions. We find that for region sizes larger than 4 degrees x 4 degrees, spurious spatial variations in retrieved cloud and aerosol properties can introduce widespread significant errors to calculations of dlnN(e)/dln tau(a) and dlnr(e)/dln tau(a). For regions on the scale of 60 degrees x 60 degrees, these methodological errors may lead to an overestimate in global cloud albedo effect radiative forcing of order 80% relative to that calculated for regions on the scale of 1 degrees x 1 degrees.

DOI:
10.5194/acp-10-11459-2010

ISSN:
1680-7316

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