Marty Mlynczak

Radiation and Aerosol Branch, NASA Langley Research Center

Abstract:

The development of the WACCM in concert with the launch of numerous remote sensing
satellites offers a unique opportunity to assess the entire atmosphere as a single entity from
the surface to the edge of space. The Terra, Aqua, Aura, and TIMED satellites will provide
measurements of the thermal structure from the Earth's surface to the middle thermosphere,
of the radiative energy balance of the planet and atmosphere, of the vertical profiles of
radiative heating and radiative cooling (including the all-important exothermic chemical
heating in the mesosphere), of the vertical profiles of moisture and chemical composition,
and of cloud properties and sea surface temperature. These data, combined with the
WACCM, with allow us to explore coupling between atmospheric layers and upward and
downward propagating influences throughout the atmosphere. A host of exciting scientific
opportunities exists with these data and WACCM including: Resolving the mesospheric
diurnal tide using multiple satellites; Evaluating equator-to-pole energy transport as a
function of altitude; Evaluating the influence of cloud radiative forcing throughout the
entire atmosphere; Evaluating the effects of major air-sea exchange events (e.g., ENSO)
on the entire atmosphere; and evaluating the influence of solar variability. These scientific
studies will provide knowledge central to understanding the Earth system and to development
of improved prediction capability of future climate.