Applications of LibRadTran for studying interactions of radiation with aerosols and clouds

• Grant number: 18/18692-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: November 03, 2018
• End date: November 14, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Henrique de Melo Jorge Barbosa
• Grantee: Henrique de Melo Jorge Barbosa
• Visiting researcher: Arve Kylling
• Visiting researcher institution: Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Norway
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/17047-0 - Aerosol and clouds life cycles in Amazonia: biogenic emissions, biomass burning and impacts on ecosystem, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

Radiation transfer in the atmosphere is present in all fields of atmospheric sciences. It is the energy source of wind movement and convection, biosphere-atmosphere interactions and is at the heart of climate stability as well as climate change. The chemistry of the atmosphere is also strongly connected to radiation by photochemistry processes. Clouds interact with radiation both in shortwave and longwave spectra in such a complex way that changes in the Cloud Radiative Effect are is still unknown in a warmer planet. The modeling of all these interactions is crucial to advance the understanding of radiation processes in the atmosphere, and LibRadtran is a state-of-the-art tool to numerically model these effects in a myriad of situations. We are applying this proposal to bring Professor Arve Kylling, one of LibRadtran's creators, for a 2-week visit to Brazil. The objective is to provide conditions for an effective and efficient interaction between Dr. Kylling and research groups in Brazil, especially in the state of Sao Paulo (some with ongoing FAPESP projects), that already use LibRadtran as a modeling tool, and wish to improve their results with the model. It is expected that students will strongly interact with Dr. Kylling and learn how to use the model and effectively develop their desired simulations during the visit period. This will be fostered by a 16h theoretical and practical training course, and daily tutoring sessions during the rest of the visit. It is also expected that through this visit the scientists will realize new applications with the simulation code, and effectively start a scientific cooperation with Dr. Kylling. In short, the aim is to maximize the effectiveness of the employment of LibRadtran radiative transfer simulations and catalyze results by the involved research groups. (AU)