Cloud cover

Role in the climate system

Clouds play multiple critical roles in the climate system and diurnal cycle. In particular, being bright objects in the visible part of the solar spectrum, they efficiently reflect light to space and thus contribute to the cooling of the planet, as well as trapping remaining heat at night. Cloud cover thus plays an important role in the energetic balance of the atmosphere and a variation of it is a factor and consequence of and to the climate change expected by recent studies.

Measuring Cloud Cover

As per Bernardineli et al., a nuance of "cloud cover" as a measurement is its own definition - which can either mean (in the extreme) - a narrow field of view measurement from a satellite, or a wide field of view measurement from a local observer. Although idealized procedures exists for estimating a local observation by taking spatial-temporal windows of remote measurements, empirical estimates are usually lacking.

Variability

Cloud cover values only vary by 3% from year-to-year averages, whereas the local, day-to-day variability in cloud amounts typically rises to 30% over the globe. Land is generally covered by 10-15% less cloud than the oceans, because the seas are covered with water, allowing for more evaporation.

Lastly, there is a latitudinal variation in the cloud cover. Areas around 10-15% below the global mean can be found around 20°N and 20°S, due to an absence of equatorial effects and strong winds reducing cloud formation. On the other hand, in the storm regions of the Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes were found to have with 15–25% more cloudiness than the global mean at 60°S. On average, about 67% of the entire Earth is cloud-covered at any moment.

On a continental scale, it can be noticed based upon a long-term satellite recording of cloudiness data that on a year-mean basis, Europe, North America, South America and Asia are dominated by cloudy skies due to the westerlies, monsoon or other effects. On the other hand, Africa, the Middle East and Australia are dominated by clear skies due to their continentality and aridity.

On a regional scale, some exceptionally humid areas of Earth experience cloudy conditions virtually all time such as South America's Amazon rainforest while some highly arid areas experience clear-sky conditions virtually all the time such as Africa's Sahara Desert.

Altitude of typical cloud cover

Although clouds can exist within a wide range of altitudes, typical cloud cover has a base at approximately 4,000m and extends up to an altitude of about 5,000m. Clouds height can vary depending on latitude; with cloud cover in polar latitudes being slightly lower and in tropical regions the cloud cover may extend up to 8,000m. The type of cloud is also a factor, with low cumulus clouds sitting at 300–1,500m while high cirrus clouds at 5,500-6,500m.

References

• McIntosh, D. H. (1972) Meteorological Glossary, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Met. O. 842, A.P. 897, 319 p.

References

1. Brun, P., Zimmermann, N.E., Hari, C., Pellissier, L., Karger, D.N. (preprint): Global climate-related predictors at kilometre resolution for the past and future. Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-212
2. Lessa Bernardineli, Danilo. (2023). "Comparing ground-based and satellite retrievals of cloud fraction over the Amazon". SSRN Electronic Journal.
3. Huschke, Ralph E.. (1970). "Glossary of Meteorology". [[American Meteorological Society]].
4. (2013). "Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Clouds Observed by MODIS Onboard the Terra and Aqua Satellites". Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
5. WMO. "Luminance".
6. "IPCC Third Assessment Report Chapter 7. Physical Climate Processes and Feedbacks (Atmospheric Processes and Feedbacks 7.2)". International Panel on Climate Change.
7. (2018-10-31). "Cloud Fraction".
8. "NOAA Cloud Cover Glossary".
9. (2020-07-07). "Cloudy Earth".
10. (2012). "Met Office introduction to clouds".