{"id":329789,"date":"2024-05-23T18:06:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T16:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=329789"},"modified":"2024-05-23T18:06:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T16:06:45","slug":"rainergy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=329789","title":{"rendered":"Rainergy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest Post by Willis Eschenbach<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If aliens in spaceships saw our world, they wouldn\u2019t name it \u201cEarth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019d name it \u201cWater\u201d because that\u2019s what makes up more than 70% of the surface. And it\u2019s also what controls the climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple days ago I stumbled across something I\u2019d been trying to find for a while, a longer-term gridded global rainfall dataset. I finally located one at the\u00a0Copernicus website<\/a>. It runs from 1979 to December 2021. Here\u2019s the global average rainfall from that site.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Figure 1. Annual average rainfall, 1979-2021<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This shows some interesting aspects. The endless rainstorms of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) are seen as the blue band above the Equator. The Pacific Warm Pool is marked by the blue blob of heavy rain north of Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A short digression. The current central paradigm of mainstream climate science is that the change in global temperature is a lagged linear function of the change in total downwelling solar and longwave (thermal) radiation. In other words, forcing (which in the climate world generally means changes in downwelling radiation, hey, don\u2019t blame me, I didn\u2019t invent the term) rules temperature, and everything else averages out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hold a different view. I hold that a variety of emergent climate phenomena<\/a> act in various ways, places, and times to thermoregulate the climate. One of the strongest of these phenomena is the daily emergence of tropical thunderstorms. When ocean temperatures exceed some local limit, thunderstorms form, rain falls, and the surface is cooled. As a result, in the current generally warming climate, we should expect an increase in tropical thunderstorms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

To investigate this prediction, I took a look at the rainfall trends. Figure 2 shows those, in millimeters per decade. Blue is getting wetter, and red is drying.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Figure 2. Rainfall trends, 1\u00b0 latitude x 1\u00b0 longitude gridcells.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As my theory would predict, the warming is leading to increased rainfall over the Pacific Warm Pool and around the Intertropical Convergence Zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the reason that I was looking for the rainfall dataset was not for the rain per se. It was because the rain is a measure of the evaporative cooling of the surface. The global average rainfall is about one meter per year. It takes ~ 80 watts per square meter (W\/m2) of radiation over a one year period to evaporate one meter of seawater. In addition, there\u2019s a cooling of another ~ 2.5 W\/m2 due to the cold rain falling on the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that globally, rainfall directly cools the surface by ~ 82 W\/m2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I didn\u2019t know until I got the Copernicus rainfall dataset was how that cooling is distributed around the planet. Here\u2019s a view of that. Of course, it looks like Figure 1, only with different units.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Figure 3. Average ongoing cooling from rainfall, 1979-2021<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The cooling is centered over the Pacific Warm Pool in the western Pacific. This is the warmest open ocean area. It\u2019s well known that the average temperature of the Pacific Warm Pool never gets warmer than about ~ 30\u00b0C \u2026 and clearly, the 250+ W\/m2 cooling of the warm pool due to rain is among the reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I wanted this information because it is a main part of the effect of clouds on temperature. The other main part is the separate and independent effect of the clouds on total radiation hitting the surface. Clouds warm some parts of the planet and cool others, by a combination of cooling by reflecting sunshine and warming by increased downwelling longwave radiation. Overall, these changes in radiation due to clouds cool the planet by about ~ 20 W\/m2. \u00a0Here\u2019s how that is distributed around the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Figure 3. Average ongoing cooling and warming from the cloud radiative effect, 2000-2023<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Note the spatial similarity between the surface cloud radiative effect and the cooling due to the rainfall. No surprise there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note also the system\u2019s efficiency\u2014the clouds\u2019 cooling effects (rainfall + radiation) are focused on the warmest areas. And this is true at both the local and the global scale\u2014thunderstorms form preferentially over local surface hot spots. This gives the most cooling for the smallest effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding these two different cloud effects together gives us a measure of most of the effect of clouds on the surface temperature. I say \u201cmost of\u201d because there are some other cooling effects. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Snow, sleet, hail, and graupel. Since these are frozen, there\u2019s additional surface cooling from the melting of the ice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Clear dry descending air around thunderstorms. Because most of the water as well as most of the aerosols have been stripped out of the air by rainfall, there\u2019s far less water vapor and aerosols to absorb radiation leaving the surface. This allows for greater surface radiation making it to space, cooling the surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A cold wind from the condensation level of the atmosphere is entrained by the falling rain and hits the surface vertically. This wind then spreads out when it hits the surface, cooling a much larger surface area around each rain cloud.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Setting those other cooling effects aside for the moment, here\u2019s the distribution of total cloud cooling (radiative plus rainfall) around the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Figure 4. Full effect of clouds on the surface temperature<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Note that rather than the ~ -20 W\/m2 cooling from just the radiative effects of the clouds, the true effect of the clouds is about 100 W\/m2, and there are large areas where the cooling exceeds -300 W\/m2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Next, we can take a look at the relationship between total cloud cooling (radiative plus rainfall) and surface temperature. This is clearest over the 70% of the surface that is water. Here\u2019s that relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Figure 5. Scatterplot, total cloud cooling (rainfall plus radiation) versus sea surface temperature. Each blue dot is a 1\u00b0 latitude by 1\u00b0 longitude area of the ocean surface.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    This is exactly the shape we\u2019d expect to see in a thermoregulatory system. As the sea surface temperature increases, the total cloud cooling reduces \u2026 but only up to about 26\u00b0C. Above that, the cloud cooling increases very rapidly, quickly becoming around -300 to -400 W\/m2 of cooling as the sea surface temperature gets up close to ~ 30\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, the yellow line in Figure 5 shows the slope of the cloud cooling\/temperature relationship, which is how much the cloud cooling changes for every 1\u00b0C of surface warming. And over at the right of Figure 5, that slope is ~ -100 to ~ -150 W\/m2 of increased cooling for every 1\u00b0C of surface warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In closing, let me note that since 1950, CO2 has theoretically increased downwelling radiation by something on the order of 1.4 W\/m2 \u2026 and that would be totally undone by a mere 1.4% increase<\/strong> in cloud cooling. In that context, bear in mind that global cloud cooling changes by up to 9%<\/strong> from one month to the next, and we never even notice \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [CODA] The important thing about cloud cooling is that it is temperature-controlled. It has nothing to do with forcing. When tropical sea surface temperatures go above about 26\u00b0C, it rains, regardless of the forcing. Period. See below.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Figure 6. Pacific equatorial rainfall, 5\u00b0 north to 5\u00b0 south.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    My regards to all, and remember\u2014rather than cursing the storm, learn to dance in the rain \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    w.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As Always:<\/strong> Please quote the exact words you are discussing. It avoids endless arguments. And me, I\u2019m going to be in town today when this publishes, so play fair, no eye gouging, and may the best wo\/man win \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If aliens in spaceships saw our world, they wouldn\u2019t name it \u201cEarth\u201d.<\/p>\n

    They\u2019d name it \u201cWater\u201d because that\u2019s what makes up more than 70% of the surface. And it\u2019s also what controls the climate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":329803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818432,691828752,691828753],"class_list":["post-329789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-clouds","tag-cooling-and-warming","tag-total-cloud-cooling","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/saxLW1-rainergy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":250795,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=250795","url_meta":{"origin":329789,"position":0},"title":"Water Vapor, Clouds Are The Real Direct Masters Controlling Our Climate","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/02\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Clouds reduce the energy at the surface, i.e. they currently cool the climate.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-clouds-vapour.jpeg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-clouds-vapour.jpeg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-clouds-vapour.jpeg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-clouds-vapour.jpeg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-clouds-vapour.jpeg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":242475,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=242475","url_meta":{"origin":329789,"position":1},"title":"Observation: Removing Water Vapor (Greenhouse Gas) Leads To Warming\u2026Adding It Leads To Cooling","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/31\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"These observational results would appear to contradict the modeled claims that water vapor is a positive feedback leading to enhanced warming.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1349.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1349.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1349.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1349.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1349.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":434956,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=434956","url_meta":{"origin":329789,"position":2},"title":"Climate is Cloud Controlled (John\u00a0Clauser)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/28\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"So, what I\u2019m adding to the mix here is I believe I have the missing piece of the puzzle, if you will, that has been left out in virtually all of these computer programs, and that is the effect of clouds. The 2003 National Academy report totally admitted that they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNrkldloGXs1Zmx5S7EFz3m8_HIWDgNYAdBj7d1PlEQw62y5zCQmLS4wk0aEgOWnWiqMY1rBx4P9bqEZ93APwhs0VR_zxyUPQzIkWIfbp2Uy1cm5HMUYHUsH0hcARMc.jpeg?fit=1200%2C590&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNrkldloGXs1Zmx5S7EFz3m8_HIWDgNYAdBj7d1PlEQw62y5zCQmLS4wk0aEgOWnWiqMY1rBx4P9bqEZ93APwhs0VR_zxyUPQzIkWIfbp2Uy1cm5HMUYHUsH0hcARMc.jpeg?fit=1200%2C590&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNrkldloGXs1Zmx5S7EFz3m8_HIWDgNYAdBj7d1PlEQw62y5zCQmLS4wk0aEgOWnWiqMY1rBx4P9bqEZ93APwhs0VR_zxyUPQzIkWIfbp2Uy1cm5HMUYHUsH0hcARMc.jpeg?fit=1200%2C590&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNrkldloGXs1Zmx5S7EFz3m8_HIWDgNYAdBj7d1PlEQw62y5zCQmLS4wk0aEgOWnWiqMY1rBx4P9bqEZ93APwhs0VR_zxyUPQzIkWIfbp2Uy1cm5HMUYHUsH0hcARMc.jpeg?fit=1200%2C590&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AQNrkldloGXs1Zmx5S7EFz3m8_HIWDgNYAdBj7d1PlEQw62y5zCQmLS4wk0aEgOWnWiqMY1rBx4P9bqEZ93APwhs0VR_zxyUPQzIkWIfbp2Uy1cm5HMUYHUsH0hcARMc.jpeg?fit=1200%2C590&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":277031,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=277031","url_meta":{"origin":329789,"position":3},"title":"Observational and theoretical evidence that cloud feedback decreases global warming","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, I decided to take a shot at publishing my views on the cloud feedback response to increases in surface warming. 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