E-APRP method: Quantifying changes in the Arctic shortwave cloud radiative effects

Quantifying changes in the Arctic shortwave cloud radiative effects (in preparation)

We introduce our extended APRP (E-APRP) method. The APRP method allows one to separate the changes in the TOA and surface fluxes of SW radiation into the individual contributions from changes in surface albedo, cloud, and noncloud constituents of the atmosphere (Taylor et al. 2007). This method assumes that a single atmospheric layer absorbs SW fluxes only on the incident beam’s first pass while scattering radiation that passes through it after being reflected by the surface for infinite passes.  For E-APRP method, we have implemented two additional ratios: the ratio of upward beam to downward beam absorptivity and the ratio of reflectivity.

Taylor, K., and Coauthors. (2007). Estimating shortwave radiative forcing and response in climate models. Journal of Climate, 20, 2530-2543.