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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 34, L04701, doi:10.1029/2006GL028083, 2007

Arguments against a physical long-term trend in global ISCCP cloud amounts

Amato T. Evan

Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA


Andrew K. Heidinger

Office of Research and Applications, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA


Daniel J. Vimont

Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA


Abstract

The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) multi-decadal record of cloudiness exhibits a well-known global decrease in cloud amounts. This downward trend has recently been used to suggest widespread increases in surface solar heating, decreases in planetary albedo, and deficiencies in global climate models. Here we show that trends observed in the ISCCP data are satellite viewing geometry artifacts and are not related to physical changes in the atmosphere. Our results suggest that in its current form, the ISCCP data may not be appropriate for certain long-term global studies, especially those focused on trends.”

Received 11 September 2006; accepted 23 January 2007; published 17 February 2007.

Keywords: satellite; cloud; climatology.

Index Terms: 0315 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Biosphere/atmosphere interactions (0426, 1610); 0321 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Cloud/radiation interaction; 1635 Global Change: Oceans (1616, 3305, 4215, 4513); 1694 Global Change: Instruments and techniques; 1855 Hydrology: Remote sensing (1640).

Subscriber Access to Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF, file size: 199876 bytes)

Citation: Evan, A. T., A. K. Heidinger, and D. J. Vimont (2007), Arguments against a physical long-term trend in global ISCCP cloud amounts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L04701, doi:10.1029/2006GL028083.