Global Radiative Flux and Cloudiness Variability for the Period 1959–2010 in Belgium: A Comparison between Reanalyses and the Regional Climate Model MAR
regional and mesoscale modelling; reanalysis; global radiative flux; cloud cover; europe
Abstract :
[en] The use of regional climate models (RCMs) can partly reduce the biases in global radiative flux (Eg↓) that are found in reanalysis products and global models, as they allow for a finer spatial resolution and a finer parametrisation of surface and atmospheric processes. In this study, we assess the ability of the MAR («Modèle Atmosphérique Régional») RCM to reproduce observed changes in Eg↓, and we investigate the added value of MAR with respect to reanalyses. Simulations were performed at a horizontal resolution of 5 km for the period 1959–2010 by forcing MAR with different reanalysis products: ERA40/ERA-interim, NCEP/NCAR-v1, ERA-20C, and 20CRV2C. Measurements of Eg↓ from the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA) and from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMIB), as well as cloud cover observations from Belgocontrol and RMIB, were used for the evaluation of the MAR model and the forcing reanalyses. Results show that MAR enables largely reducing the mean biases that are present in the reanalyses. The trend analysis shows that only MAR forced by ERA40/ERA-interim shows historical trends, which is probably because ERA40/ERA-interim has a better horizontal resolution and assimilates more observations than the other reanalyses that are used in this study. The results suggest that the solar brightening observed since the 1980s in Belgium has mainly been due to decreasing cloud cover.
Research Center/Unit :
Sphères - SPHERES
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Wyard, Coraline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Doutreloup, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Belleflamme, Alexandre; Université de Liège - ULiège > Géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Wild, Martin; ETH Zurich > Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science
Fettweis, Xavier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Language :
English
Title :
Global Radiative Flux and Cloudiness Variability for the Period 1959–2010 in Belgium: A Comparison between Reanalyses and the Regional Climate Model MAR
Wild, M. Enlightening global dimming and brightening. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 2012, 93, 27-37
Jerez, S.; Tobin, I.; Vautard, R.; Montávez, J.P.; López-Romero, J.M.; Thais, F.; Bartok, B.; Christensen, O.B.; Colette, A.; Déqué, M.; et al. The impact of climate change on photovoltaic power generation in Europe. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 10014
Gilgen, H.; Wild, M.; Ohmura, A. Means and trends of shortwave irradiance at the surface estimated from global energy balance archive data. J. Clim. 1998, 11, 2042-2061
Liepert, B.G. Observed reductions of surface solar radiation at sites in the United States and worldwide from 1961 to 1990. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2002, 29, 61-1-61-4
Sanchez-Lorenzo, A.; Wild, M.; Brunetti, M.; Guijarro, J.A.; Hakuba, M.Z.; Calbõ, J.; Mystakidis, S.; Bartok, B. Reassessment and update of long-term trends in downward surface shortwave radiation over Europe (1939-2012). J. Geophys. Res: Atmos. 2015, 120, 9555-9569
Stanhill, G.; Cohen, S. Solar radiation changes in Japan during the 20th century: Evidence from sunshine duration measurementes. J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 2008, 86, 57-67
Pinker, R.T.; Zhang, B.; Dutton, E.G. Do Satellites Detect Trends in Surface Solar Radiation? Science 2005, 308, 850-854
Wild, M.; Gilgen, H.; Roesch, A.; Ohmura, A.; Long, C.N.; Dutton, E.G.; Forgan, B.; Kallis, A.; Russak, V.; Tsvetkov, A. From Dimming to Brightening: Decadal Changes in Solar Radiation at Earth's Surface. Science 2005, 308, 847-850
Chiacchio, M.; Wild, M. Influence of NAO and clouds on long-term seasonal variations of surface solar radiation in Europe. J. Geophys. Res. 2010, 115, D00D22
Norris, J.R.; Wild, M. Trends in aerosol radiative effects over Europe inferred from observed cloud cover, solar "dimming, "and solar "brightening". J. Geophys. Res. 2007, 112, D08214
Marmer, E.; Langmann, B.; Fagerli, H.; Vestreng, V. Direct shortwave radiative forcing of sulfate aerosol over Europe from 1900 to 2000. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 2007, 112, 1-16
Schulz, M.; Textor, C.; Kinne, S.; Balkanski, Y.; Bauer, S.; Berntsen, T.; Berglen, T.; Boucher, O.; Dentener, F.; Guibert, S.; et al. Radiative forcing by aerosols as derived from the AeroCom present-day and pre-industrial simulations. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2006, 6, 5225-5246
Cherian, R.; Quaas, J.; Salzmann, M.; Wild, M. Pollution trends over Europe constrain global aerosol forcing as simulated by climate models. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2014, 41, 2176-2181
Yang, X.; Zhao, C.; Zhou, L.;Wang, Y.; Liu, X. Distinct impact of different types of aerosols on surface solar radiation in China. J. Geophys. Res. 2016, 121, 6459-6471
Yang, X.; Zhao, C.; Guo, J.;Wang, Y. Intensification of aerosol pollution associated with its feedback with surface solar radiation and winds in Beijing. J. Geophys. Res. 2016, 121, 4093-4099
Twomey, S. The Influence of Pollution on the Shortwave Albedo of Clouds. J. Atmos. Sci. 1977, 34, 1149-1152
Lohmann, U.; Feichter, J. Global indirect aerosol effects: A review. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2005, 5, 715-737
Wild, M.; Trüssel, B.; Ohmura, A.; Long, C.N.; König-Langlo, G.; Dutton, E.G.; Tsvetkov, A. Global dimming and brightening: An update beyond 2000. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 2009, 114, 1-14
Roesch, A.;Wild, M.; Ohmura, A.; Dutton, E.G.; Long, C.N.; Zhang, T. Assessment of BSRN radiation records for the computation of monthly means. Atmos. Meas. Tech. 2011, 4, 339-354
Bengulescu, M.; Blanc, P.; Boilley, A.; Wald, L. Do modelled or satellite-based estimates of surface solar irradiance accurately describe its temporal variability? Adv. Sci. Res. 2017, 14, 35-48
Zhang, X.; Liang, S.; Wild, M.; Jiang, B. Analysis of surface incident shortwave radiation from four satellite products. Remote Sens. Environ. 2015, 165, 186-202
Compo, G.P.; Whitaker, J.S.; Sardeshmukh, P.D.; Matsui, N.; Allan, R.J.; Yin, X.; Gleason, B.E.; Vose, R.S.; Rutledge, G.; Bessemoulin, P.; et al. The Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 2011, 137, 1-28
Dee, D.P.; Uppala, S.M.; Simmons, A.J.; Berrisford, P.; Poli, P.; Kobayashi, S.; Andrae, U.; Balmaseda, M.A.; Balsamo, G.; Bauer, P.; et al. The ERA-Interim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data assimilation system. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 2011, 137, 553-597
Kalnay, E.; Kanamitsu, M.; Kistler, R.; Collins, W.; Deaven, D.; Gandin, L.; Iredell, M.; Saha, S.; White, G.; Woollen, J.; et al. The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 1996, 77, 437-471
Poli, P.; Hersbach, H.; Dee, D.P.; Berrisford, P.; Simmons, A.J.; Vitart, F.; Laloyaux, P.; Tan, D.G.H.; Peubey, C.; Thépaut, J.N.; et al. ERA-20C: An atmospheric reanalysis of the twentieth century. J. Clim. 2016, 29, 4083-4097
Uppala, S.M.; KÅllberg, P.W.; Simmons, A.J.; Andrae, U.; Bechtold, V.D.C.; Fiorino, M.; Gibson, J.K.; Haseler, J.; Hernandez, A.; Kelly, G.A.; et al. The ERA-40 re-analysis. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 2005, 131, 2961-3012
Wang, Y.; Zhao, C. Can MODIS cloud fraction fully represent the diurnal and seasonal variations at DOE ARM SGP and Manus sites? J. Geophys. Res. 2017, 122, 329-343
Babst, F.; Mueller, R.W.; Hollmann, R. Verification of NCEP reanalysis shortwave radiation with mesoscale remote sensing data. IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett. 2008, 5, 34-37
Allan, R.P.; Ringer, M.A.; Pamment, J.A.; Slingo, A. Simulation of the Earth's radiation budget by the European centre for medium-range weather forecasts 40-year reanalysis (ERA40). J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 2004, 109, 1-13
Träger-Chatterjee, C.; Müller, R.W.; Trentmann, J.; Bendix, J. Evaluation of ERA-40 and ERA-interim re-analysis incoming surface shortwave radiation datasets with mesoscale remote sensing data. Meteorol. Z. 2010, 19, 631-640
Zhang, X.; Liang, S.; Wang, G.; Yao, Y.; Jiang, B.; Cheng, J. Evaluation of the reanalysis surface incident shortwave radiation products from NCEP, ECMWF, GSFC, and JMA using satellite and surface observations. Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 225
Giorgi, F.; Gutowski, W.J. Regional Dynamical Downscaling and the CORDEX Initiative. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2015, 40, 467-490
Termonia, P.; Van Schaeybroeck, B.; De Cruz, L.; De Troch, R.; Caluwaerts, S.; Giot, O.; Hamdi, R.;Willems, P.; Tabari, H.; Van Uytven, E.; et al. The CORDEX.be initiative as a foundation for climate services in Belgium. Clim. Serv. 2018, in press
Gallée, H.; Schayes, G. Development of a Three-Dimensional Meso-Primitive Equation Model: Katabatic Winds Simulation in the Area of Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Mon. Weather Rev. 1994, 122, 671-685
Gallée, H. Simulation of the Mesocyclonic Activity in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Mon. Weather Rev. 1995, 123, 2051-2069
Gallée, H.; Trouvilliez, A.; Agosta, C.; Genthon, C.; Favier, V.; Naaim-bouvet, F. Transport of Snow by the Wind: A Comparison between Observations in Adélie Land, Antarctica, and Simulations Made with the Regional Climate Model MAR. Bound.-Layer Meteorol. 2013, 146, 133-147
De Ridder, K.; Gallée, H. Land Surface-Induced Regional Climate Change in Southern Israel. J. Appl. Meteorol. 1998, 37, 1470-1485
Bechtold, P.; Bazile, E.; Guichard, F.; Mascart, P.; Richard, E. A mass-flux convection scheme for regional and global models. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 2001, 127, 869-886
Kessler, E. On the Distribution and Continuity of Water Substance in Atmospheric Circulations; Monog, M., Ed.; American Meteorological Society: Boston, MA, USA, 1969
Lin, Y.-L.; Farley, R.D.; Orville, H.D. Bulk Parameterization of the Snow Field in a Cloud Model. J. Clim. Appl. Meteorol. 1983, 22, 1065-1092
Meyers, M.P.; DeMott, P.J.; Cotton, W.R. New Primary Ice-Nucleation Parameterizations in an Explicit Cloud Model. J. Appl. Meteorol. 1992, 31, 708-721
Levkov, L.; Rockel, B.; Kapitza, H.; Raschke, E. 3D mesoscale numerical studies of cirrus and stratus clouds by their time and space evolution. Contrib. Atmos. Phys. 1992, 65, 35-58
Morcrette, J.-J. Assessment of the ECMWF Model Cloudiness and Surface Radiation Fields at the ARM SGP Site. Mon. Weather Rev. 2002, 130, 257-277
Tegen, I.; Hollrig, P.; Chin, M.; Fung, I.; Jacob, D.; Penner, J. Contribution of different aerosol species to the global aerosol extinction optical thickness: Estimates from model results. J. Geophys. Res. 1997, 102, 23895
Fettweis, X.; Box, J.E.; Agosta, C.; Amory, C.; Kittel, C.; Lang, C.; van As, D.; Machguth, H.; Gallée, H. Reconstructions of the 1900-2015 Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance using the regional climate MAR model. Cryosphere 2017, 11, 1015-1033
Wyard, C.; Scholzen, C.; Fettweis, X.; Van Campenhout, J.; François, L. Decrease in climatic conditions favouring floods in the south-east of Belgium over 1959-2010 using the regional climate model MAR. Int. J. Clim. 2017, 37, 2782-2796
Hofer, S.; Tedstone, A.J.; Fettweis, X.; Bamber, J.L. Decreasing cloud cover drives the recent mass loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Sci. Adv. 2017, 3, e1700584
Fettweis, X.; Wyard, C.; Doutreloup, S.; Belleflamme, A. Noël 2010 en Belgique: Neige en Flandre et pluie en Haute-Ardenne. Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège 2017, 68, 97-107
Gelaro, R.; McCarty, W.; Suárez, M.J.; Todling, R.; Molod, A.; Takacs, L.; Randles, C.A.; Darmenov, A.; Bosilovich, M.G.; Reichle, R.; et al. The modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications, version 2 (MERRA-2). J. Clim. 2017, 30, 5419-5454
Wild, M.; Ohmura, A.; Schär, C.; Müller, G.; Folini, D.; Schwarz, M.; Zyta Hakuba, M.; Sanchez-Lorenzo, A. The Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA) version 2017: A database for worldwide measured surface energy fluxes. Earth Syst. Sci. Data 2017, 9, 601-613
Journée, M.; Bertrand, C. Improving the spatio-temporal distribution of surface solar radiation data by merging ground and satellite measurements. Remote Sens. Environ. 2010, 114, 2692-2704
Markovic, M.; Jones, C.G.;Winger, K.; Paquin, D. The surface radiation budget over North America: Gridded data assessment and evaluation of regional climate models. Int. J. Clim. 2009, 29, 2226-2240
Alexandri, G.; Georgoulias, A.K.; Zanis, P.; Katragkou, E.; Tsikerdekis, A.; Kourtidis, K.; Meleti, C. On the ability of RegCM4 regional climate model to simulate surface solar radiation patterns over Europe: An assessment using satellite-based observations. Atrmos. Chem. Phys. 2015, 15, 13195-13216
Fan, T.; Zhao, C.; Dong, X.; Liu, X.; Yang, X.; Zhang, F.; Shi, C.; Wang, Y.; Wu, F. Quantify contribution of aerosol errors to cloud fraction biases in CMIP5 Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project simulations. Int. J. Clim. 2018, 1-17
Wild, M. Global dimming and brightening: A review. J. Geophys. Res. 2009, 114, D00D16
Snedecor, G.; Cochran, W. Statistical Methods, 6th ed.; Iowa State: Ames, IA, USA, 1967
Royal Meteorological Institure (RMI). Vigilance Climatique; Gellens, D., Ed.; Royal Meteorological Institure of Belgium: Brussels, Belgium, 2015; ISBN 02008/0224/049
De Bock, V.; De Backer, H.; Van Malderen, R.; Mangold, A.; Delcloo, A. Relations between erythemal UV dose, global solar radiation, total ozone column and aerosol optical depth at Uccle, Belgium. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2014, 14, 12251-12270
Sliggers, J.; Kakebeeke, W. Clearing the Air: 25 Years of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution; Sliggers, J., Kakebeeke, W., Eds.; The United Nations: Geneva, NY, USA, 2004; ISBN 92-1-116910-0
Forster, P.; Lohmann, U.; Flanner, M.; Robock, A.; Wyant, M. Clouds and aerosols. In Climate Change 2013 the Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Cambridge University Press: New York, NY, USA, 2013; pp. 571-658. ISBN 978-1-10705-7
Eastman, R.; Warren, S.G. A 39-yr survey of cloud changes from land stations worldwide 1971-2009: Long-term trends, relation to aerosols, and expansion of the tropical belt. J. Clim. 2013, 26, 1286-1303
Mateos, D.; Antón, M.; Cachorro, V.E.; Calbó, J.; Costa, M.J.; Torres, B.;Wild, M. Quantifying the respective roles of aerosols and clouds in the strong brightening since the early 2000s over the Iberian Peninsula. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 2014, 119, 10 382-10 393
Sanchez-Lorenzo, A.; Enriquez-Alonso, A.;Wild, M.; Trentmann, J.; Vicente-Serrano, S.M.; Sanchez-Romero, A.; Posselt, R.; Hakuba, M.Z. Trends in downward surface solar radiation from satellites and ground observations over Europe during 1983-2010. Remote Sens. Environ. 2017, 189, 108-117
Pfeifroth, U.; Bojanowski, J.S.; Clerbaux, N.; Manara, V.; Sanchez-lorenzo, A.; Walawender, J.P.; Hollmann, R. Satellite-based trends of solar radiation and cloud parameters in Europe. Adv. Sci. Res. 2018, 15, 31-37
Bender, F.A.M.; Ramanathan, V.; Tselioudis, G. Changes in extratropical storm track cloudiness 1983-2008: Observational support for a poleward shift. Clim. Dyn. 2012, 38, 2037-2053
Belleflamme, A.; Fettweis, X.; Erpicum, M. Do global warming-induced circulation pattern changes affect temperature and precipitation over Europe during summer? Int. J. Clim. 2014, 1499, 1484-1499
Bednorz, E.; Kaczmarek, D.; Dudlik, P. Atmospheric conditions governing anomalies of the summer and winter cloudiness in Spitsbergen. Theor. Appl. Climatol. 2016, 123, 1-10
Lupikasza, E.; Lipinski, O. Cloud cover over Spitsbergen and its relation to atmospheric circulation (1983-2015). Geogr. Pol. 2017, 90, 21-38
