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February 28, 2007

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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1989

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
RADIATION AND GLOBAL MODELING

Item #d89jan25

"Simultaneous Measurement of UV Radiation Received by the Biosphere and Total Ozone Amount," K. Stamnes (Dept. Phys., Univ. Alaska), K. Henriksen, P. Ostensen, Geophys. Res. Lett., 15(8), 784-787, Aug. 1988.

Demonstrates the feasibility of determining atmospheric ozone abundances and spectral ultraviolet irradiances simultaneously with a UV-sensitive spectrometer, providing the missing link between stratospheric ozone content and UV radiation received at the ground. Suggests that this procedure be used to monitor the relation between atmospheric ozone amounts and UV radiation transmitted through the atmosphere. Also, by combining UV measurements with appropriate radiation transfer modeling, it is possible to assess the effects of cloud cover and aerosol loading on UV transmittance.

Item #d89jan26

"Fluxes and Influxes of Heat Radiation in the 15 micro m CO₂ Band," Y.M. Timofeev (Leningrad State Univ.), T.A. Naumova, A.V. Polyakov, Soviet Meteor. Hydrol., 27-31, 1988 (trans. of Meteor. Gidrologiya, 2, 40-46, 1988).

A new integral function of the 15 micro m CO₂ band has been constructed that includes temperature dependence. Temperature dependence is especially substantial in calculations of descending fluxes and influxes of radiation in the stratosphere. The greatest errors in calculating radiation influxes are observed in winter.

Item #d89jan27

"Runaway and Moist Greenhouse Atmospheres and the Evolution of Earth and Venus," J.F. Kasting (NASA Ames Res. Ctr., Moffett Field CA 94035), Icarus, 74, 472-494, June 1988.

Uses a one-dimensional climate model to examine the response of an earthlike atmosphere to large solar flux increases, for fully moisture-saturated, cloud-free conditions. The critical solar flux at which a runaway greenhouse (total evaporation of oceans) occurs is estimated to be 1.4 times the present flux at the earth's orbit, and is almost independent of the CO₂ content of the atmosphere. The value is, however, sensitive to the H2O absorption coefficient in the 8-12 micron window. The oceans of Venus may have been lost early in the planet's history due to rapid water vapor photodissociation, followed by hydrogen escape into space.

Item #d89jan28

"A Methodology for Understanding and Intercomparing Atmospheric Climate Feedback Processes in General Circulation Models," R.D. Cess (Atmos. Sci. Dept., State Univ. N.Y., Stony Brook NY 11794), G.L. Potter, J. Geophys. Res., 93(D7), 8305-8314, July 20, 1988.

Suggests design of future climate model simulations that take changes due to increasing atmospheric CO₂ into account. Also suggests that seasurface temperature perturbations may be used in conjunction with separation of clear and overcast regions within a model. Illustrates this approach through the use of the Oregon State University/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory General Circulation Model.