Publications

Richardson, MT; Roy, RJ; Lebsock, MD (2022). Satellites Suggest Rising Tropical High Cloud Altitude: 2002-2021. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 49(10), e2022GL098160.

Abstract
Tropical upper-troposphere clouds are expected to rise under global warming, contributing a positive radiative feedback. Here we show that Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) retrievals over 2002-2021 from the Terra and Aqua satellites report a tropical-mean high-cloud altitude increase of 6.9 +/- 2.7 m yr(-1) (+/- 2 sigma), while atmospheric models report 5.6 +/- 3.0 m yr(-1) over 1979-2014. During their common overlap period, however, the observed trend is greater than that of the models. The atmospheric models also show a tropically confined cloud-height response to El Nino, whereas the observed cloud height response peak extends into the subtropics. Poleward of the mid-latitudes, Aqua and Terra MODIS have cloud-height drifts relative to each other, highlighting the need for deeper investigation of potential time-dependent biases in MODIS cloud retrievals. Both sensors report significant tropical cloud height increases since 2002, which are statistically consistent with those simulated by climate models.

DOI:
10.1029/2022GL098160

ISSN:
1944-8007