Optically thin cirrus clouds over oceans and possible impact on sea surface temperature of warm pool in western Pacific

摘要: Over the convectively active tropical ocean regions, measurement made from space in IR and visible spectrum have revealed presence of optically thin cirrus clouds, which are quite transparent nearly opaque IR. The Nimbus-4 Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS), has a field view (FOV) approximately 100 km, was utilized to examine optical characteristics these clouds. From IRIS data, it observed that clouds prevail extensively over warm pool region equatorial western Pacific, surrounding Indonesia. It is found seasonal cloud cover caused by exceeds 50 percent near central regions pool. For most thickness less than or = 2. deduced dense cold anvil associated with deep convection spread responsible for formation This supported observation coverage an order magnitude observations, together simple radiative-convective model, inferred can provide greenhouse effect, be significant factor maintaining In absence fluid transports, could lead runaway effect. transport processes, however, act moderate this Thus, if modest 20 W/sq m energy input considered available ocean, then mixed-layer 50-m depth will heated 1 C days.