Kernel Decomposition of CERES Radiative Flux Changes

Using radiative kernels in tandem with corresponding observations of geophysical variables, this dataset includes a decomposition of CERES top-of-atmosphere radiative flux changes into contributions from the instantaneous radiative forcing (IRF), and temperature (planck and lapse rate), water vapor, surface albedo and cloud radiative feedbacks.  Each file contains gridded data for a different term.

Calculations were performed using radiative kernels derived from the CloudSat observations (Kramer et al. 2019), surface albedo and radiative fluxes from CERES-EBAF Ed. 4.2 product (Loeb et al. 2021), and temperature and specific humidity profiles from the AIRS-CLIMCAPS product (Smith and Barnet 2020). All data is provided as deseasonalized radiative flux anomalies relative to the mean of radiative fluxes over the entire time period, 2003 through 2023.  Units are W/m^2.

Kramer, R. J., Matus, A. V., Soden, B. J., & L’Ecuyer, T. S. (2019). Observation‐Based radiative kernels from CloudSAt/CALIPSO. Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 124(10), 5431–5444. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jd029021

Loeb, N. G., Doelling, D. R., Wang, H., Su, W., Nguyen, C., Corbett, J. G., et al. (2017). Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) Top-of-Atmosphere (TOA) Edition-4.0 data product. Journal of Climate, 31(2), 895–918. https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli-d-17-0208.1

Smith, N., & Barnet, C. D. (2020). CLIMCAPS observing capability for temperature, moisture, and trace gases from AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 13(8), 4437–4459. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4437-2020