Journal Article

Warming Climate‐Induced Changes in Cloud Vertical Distribution Possibly Exacerbate Intra‐Atmospheric Heating Over the Tibetan Plateau

Wang, Yifei, Zhang, Weiyuan, Li, Jiming, Zhao, Yang, Wen, Deyu

2024

Overview

The complex and diverse cloud vertical distribution (CVD) largely impacts radiative and precipitation properties of clouds. Using 10‐year active satellite observations, we classified CVD over the Tibetan Plateau into 12 categories and found that overlapping clouds have less frequency but stronger radiative effect, heating rate and larger precipitation (partly reflecting the seeding effect) compared with single‐layer non‐strong convective clouds. Under a warming climate due to uniform sea surface temperature increase of 4K (quadrupling CO2 increase), extremely high (>10 km) ice clouds will increase, particularly those below the tropopause will increase slightly (largely), accompanied by clear (weak) increases in stratospheric clouds. Simultaneously, a moderate to rapid decrease will occur in clouds below 10 km. Such CVD changes could further exacerbate tropopause warming. The probability of cloud overlap is also likely to increase in warmer climates, thus possibly further causing non‐convective cloud systems with stronger intra‐atmospheric heating, larger precipitation intensity and proportion. Plain Language Summary The diverse vertical morphologies of clouds (cloud vertical distribution, CVD) cause great challenges in accurately simulating radiative and precipitation properties, influencing regional radiation budget. As a robust signature of climate change, CVD significantly impacts cloud feedback and will change dramatically with warming. Therefore, knowledge about the CVD and its potential change are essential, especially on the Tibetan Plateau (TP, with high climate sensitivity). Using 10‐year active satellite observations, we classified clouds into 12 classes and found multi‐layer (overlapping) clouds are less frequent but with stronger radiative effect, atmospheric heating and larger precipitation intensity (proportion) than single‐layer clouds excluding convective clouds. Under a warming climate due to uniform sea surface temperature increase of 4K (quadrupling CO2 increase), clouds (especially ice‐cloud) above 10 km will increase, and those below the tropopause increase slightly (largely) accompanied by clear (weak) increases in the stratospheric clouds. Simultaneously, clouds below 10 km will experience a moderate to rapid decrease. Such CVD changes could exacerbate tropopause warming. In addition, the probability of cloud overlap in warmer climates is also likely to increase due to stronger convective available potential energy, possibly resulting in stronger atmospheric heating and larger precipitation intensity and proportion for non‐convective cloud systems. Key Points Multi‐layer clouds are less frequent on the Tibetan Plateau but with stronger radiation effect and precipitation intensity than single‐layer clouds Increase/decrease in clouds above/below tropopause might be tied to a possible convective available potential energy (CAPE)‐induced switch from general to intense convection The enhanced CAPE‐induced deep convection may increase the likelihood of cloud overlap, further enhancing intra‐atmospheric heating

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Active satellites / Atmospheric heating / CALIPSO‐GOCCP / Carbon dioxide / Climate change / Climate sensitivity / Cloud seeding / Cloud systems / cloud vertical distribution / Clouds / CMIP6 / Convective available potential energy / Convective clouds / Distribution / Global warming / Heating / Heating rate / Ice clouds / Plateaus / Potential energy / Precipitation / Probability theory / Radiation budget / Rainfall intensity / Satellite observation / Satellites / Sea surface / Sea surface temperature / Stratosphere / Surface temperature / Temperature rise / Tibetan Plateau / Tropopause / Vertical distribution / warming‐induced change