Clouds are arguably one of the most important factors modulating the earth’s energy balance. Yet, our understanding of natural and anthropogenic cloud forcings and potential feedbacks is still poor. Satellite data provide the only means to globally observe cloud properties and significant progress has been made in this field over the last decades. Long-term satellite climatologies, covering 20 to 30 years, have become an increasingly valuable tool for climate research. In this presentation the role of satellite observation in advancing our understanding of cloud processes will be critically addressed. Their role in climate research is discussed and examples both at a process level as well as the climate system level will be given. It is argued that only a combination of observations, conceptual models, and climate models will allow for a full exploitation of the vast amount of global satellite cloud observations available.

This event is part of the eventgroup Karlsruhe Seminar for Aerosol Physics

Speaker
Prof. Ralf Bennartz

University of Wisconsin – Madison
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Organizer
Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Hermann von Helmholtz Platz 1
76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen
Tel: 0721-608-0
Mail: sekretariat ∂does-not-exist.imk-asf kit edu

Targetgroup
Scientific Staff