Cloud, Aerosol, and Radiation Data for 2003 to 2022

Network Common Data Form version 4 (netCDF-4) files containing interpolated statistical data on a common horizontal grid, derived from 2D gridded monthly mean data. The files were archived in seven groups using tar, five for each CanAM5-PAM model experiment data, one for the CMIP6 data, and one for observational data. The file names specify the model or observational source, model ensemble information, time period, variable, and region, as described below.

Variables

aod - Aerosol optical depth at 550 nm (CanAM5-PAM) or 558 nm (MISR)
cldfrc - Area fraction of stratiform clouds as viewed from the top of the atmosphere
Nd - Cloud-top cloud droplet number concentration consistent with MODIS retrievals (cm-3)
reffliq - Cloud-top effective radius of liquid cloud droplets consistent with MODIS retrievals (micrometer)
rlut - All-sky outgoing longwave radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere (W/m2)
rsut - All-sky reflected shortwave radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere (W/m2)
ts - Surface temperature (K)
swcre - Shortwave Cloud Radiative Effect, determined as the difference between clear-sky and all-sky reflected shortwave radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere (W/m2)

Regions

global - 180E to 180W, 90S to 90N
nepacifics - Northeast Pacific region, 180E to 97E, 15N to 55N (ocean only)
nwatlantic - North Atlantic region, 97E to 5E, 15N to 55N (ocean only)
nwatlnepac - Combined North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific region, 180E to 5W, 15N to 55N (ocean only)

CanAM5-PAM ensemble

ENSMEAN - ensemble mean
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 - ensemble member

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Albrecht

Simulation with Twomey and Albrecht effects (control)

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Albrecht-fixSST

Simulation with Twomey and Albrecht effects and perpetual monthly SSTs from 2000

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Albrecht-fixemis

Simulation with Twomey and Albrecht effects and perpetual monthly fossil fuel and biofuel emissions from 2000

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Twomey

Simulation with Twomey effect

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Twomey-fixSST

Simulation with Twomey effect and perpetual monthly SSTs from 2000

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Twomey-fixemis

Simulation with Twomey effect and perpetual monthly fossil fuel and biofuel emissions from 2000

MOD_CanAM5-PAM-Twomey-CMIP6_emi

Simulation with Twomey effect, using CMIP6 historical emissions from 2003 to 2014 and the SSP2-4.5 scenario from 2015 to 2022 (https://pcmdi.llnl.gov/CMIP6/)

MOD_CanAM5

Simulation with Twomey effect using the bulk aerosol scheme

CMIP6

Simulations with coupled Earth System Models, one ensemble member each, using CMIP6 historical emissions from 2003 to 2014 and the SSP2-4.5 scenario from 2015 to 2022 (https://pcmdi.llnl.gov/CMIP6/)

OBS

CERES-EBAF - https://asdc.larc.nasa.gov/project/CERES/CERES_EBAF_Edition4.2
HadCRUT5 - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadcrut5/
MISR-JOINT - https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/misr-level-3-global-joint-aerosol-monthly-product-v002
MODIS-Gry - https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/864a46cc65054008857ee5bb772a2a2b/, http://www.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~erg10/MODIS_nd/
MODIS-MOD08 - https://ladsweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/missions-and-measurements/products/MOD08_M3