What the study found
The study found that high-altitude ice clouds, including potential contrails, affect the Earth's radiation budget in different ways during the day and at night. The authors report daytime cooling, nighttime warming, and a net effect that varies between diurnal cycles.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this matters because radiative forcing, meaning the effect of clouds on incoming and outgoing energy, is still poorly quantified at high temporal resolution. They suggest their approach can provide accurate data for estimating the radiative forcing of high-altitude ice clouds, including potential contrails.
What the researchers tested
The researchers tested a Rapid Contrail-RF Estimation Approach that uses geostationary satellite observations and pre-computed Look-Up Tables to generate radiative forcing maps. They used MSG/SEVIRI observations, the OCA cloud product, a cloud top pressure filter, and libRadtran radiative transfer model calculations for short-wave and long-wave radiation.
What worked and what didn't
For six selected days with potential contrails, the method produced data on short-wave, long-wave, and net radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere. Correlation exercises and comparisons with CERES satellite observations generally indicated that the approach was accurate to about 15%.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not give detailed limitations beyond noting uncertainty checks for the Look-Up Tables, a single ice-cloud parameterization, and calculated cloud top height. The evaluation was based on six selected days and comparisons with polar-orbiting satellite observations.
Key points
- The study estimates radiative forcing for high-altitude ice clouds, including potential contrails.
- Daytime effects were reported as cooling, while nighttime effects were reported as warming.
- The method used geostationary satellite observations, Look-Up Tables, and cloud retrieval products.
- Comparisons with CERES observations generally indicated about 15% accuracy.
- The abstract says the net effect varies between diurnal cycles.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- High-altitude ice clouds show daytime cooling and nighttime warming
- Authors:
- Ermioni Dimitropoulou, Pierre de Buyl, Nicolas Clerbaux
- Institutions:
- Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-21
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Photo by Ludvig Hedenborg on Pexels · Pexels License
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