Center for Clouds Chemistry and Climate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Data Center Description
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Clouds, Chemistry, and Climate seeks to integrate observations and field-tested hypotheses (See figure on cover page) with models used for climate predictions. We identify gaps in current observing systems; fill these gaps with new data; and integrate these into global observing systems and modeling activities. This strategy requires a complex array of observations from aircraft, surface, buoys, ships and satellites. A state-of-the-art data integration and archival system is required to integrate the data and facilitate fast access. Lastly, numerical models of aerosols and clouds and the coupled ocean/atmosphere system are needed to link the observations with climate related processes.
Overall Objectives:
1.to identify and quantify the regional radiative forcing due to aerosols and ozone in pristine and polluted environments;
2. to characterize and parameterize the cloud-radiation-photochemical interactions in the tropical convective- cirrus systems and the extra-tropical storm track cloud systems;
3. To understand the role of aerosol forcing and cloud feedbacks in regional climate changes.