CAREER: Cloud Trends and Global Climate Change

这个职业资助项目提供了一种新的研究方法，试图通过量化历史数据记录中的云辐射反馈来减少气候系统对温室效应敏感性的不确定性。研究的重点是对气候系统辐射影响最大的三种云类型：海洋副热带低层云；大洋夏季风暴路径；以及热带深层对流。作为研究基础的数据集是由Warren和Hahn（1999）创建的云目录，该目录提供了从1952年开始的记录，比卫星记录早了30年。预计这项研究活动将加强对云反馈机制和气候敏感性的科学认识，有助于改进对与气候变化有关的全球变暖的认识和模拟。该项目的成果将通过公开讲座和K-12学生及其教师的教育向公众传播。

This career grant project offers a novel research approach to attempt to reduce our uncertainty of climate system sensitivity to greenhouse warming by quantifying cloud radiative feedbacks in the historical data record. The study focuses on the three clouds types believed to have the greatest radiative impact on the climate system: Oceanic subtropical low-level; oceanic summertime storm-track; and tropical deep convection. The data set to be utilized as a basis for the research is the cloud catalogue created by Warren and Hahn (1999) which offers a record beginning in 1952, pre-dating the satellite record by three decades. The research activity is expected to enhance scientific understanding of cloud feedback mechanisms and climate sensitivity, contributing towards improvements in understanding and modeling global warming associated with climate change. The results of this project will be communicated to the general population via public lectures and education of K-12 students and their teachers.