1. GEWEX Radiation Panel Report
(Current Activities and Plans)
Christian Kummerow
Colorado State University
Chair, GEWEX Radiation Panel
Fourth WCRP Observations and
Assimilation Panel (WOAP) Meeting
Date: March 2009
University of Hamburg

2. GRP Overview Radiation Activities
RAMI - RADiative transfer Model Intercomparison
CIRC - Continual Intercomparison of Radiation Codes
Data Sets
Clouds - ISCCP
Radiation - SRB
Surface reference observations - BSRN
Aerosols - GACP
Precipitation - GPCP
Sfc gauge obs (GPCC) report to CEOP
Turbulent Fluxes
SeaFlux
LandFLux
- Soil Moisture 2

3. Available Global Datasets
1979
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Parameter
Clouds
Water Vapor
TOA Radiation
Precipitation
SRF Radiation
Atmospheric Circulation
Evaporation
TIME
Pentad
Daily
3 – 6 hrs
50 km
250 km
100 km 3

4. GEWEX Radiation Panel Products
GEWEX Radiation Panel supports the production of Long Term, Global Products consisting of available satellite and in-situ observations.
GRP products are officially endorsed by the GEWEX Radiation Panel
GRP products are periodically assessed against in-situ and new “State of the Art” products of shorter duration.
GRP products and assessments conform to high standard of documentation and publication
GRP products are freely and openly available to the community without restrictions. 4

5. Cloud Assessment Activity
High Cloud Amount
Absolute values depend on
instrument sensitivity and method, but distributions are similar
CALIPSO
AIRS-LMD
ISCCP
PATMOS-x
MODIS-ST
MODIS-CE
(%)
CALIPSO (t > 0.1)
AIRS_LMD
TOVS Path-B
HCA (%) 5

6. Example of monthly LE fluxes
Example of monthly LE fluxes
Monthly averaged
latent fluxes (LE)
1.Introduction
2.Products
3.Examples
4.Annual means
5. Zonal means
6. Basins
7. Summary
August [W/m2] 

7. GRP Current Plans
Prepare for reprocessing of individual data sets using common ancillary information with other GRP products. Revisit requirement for a GEWEX Water Vapor product.
Produce first multi-product dataset to promote Water and Energy closure studies. LandFlux making great strides.
Develop roadmap for transition to operations SCOPE-CM.
Foster Data Stewardship via GCICS/NOAA SDS
Develop “robust” relationship among observed Water and Energy Variables to help validate Climate Model processes
Expand tools (e.g. ISCCP simulator) for broad use.
- Working w. GFDL for TRMM simulator
Continue to promote improvements in polar regions
Need to prepare inventory of available data from CLIC vs
data needs from GRP. 7