Combining Remote-sensing Observations and a PPE Approach to Constrain Low-cloud FeedbackProcesses in the NASA-GISS ESM

DESCRIPTION: Dr. Gregory V. Cesana (PI, 1 total FTE over the 4-year proposed project, 0.15 FTE/year in years 1 and 2; 0.35 FTE in year 3 and 4) is an expert on the use of CloudSat-CALIPSO observations and climate model evaluation of cloud-radiation properties and cloud feedbacks. He is the developer of Global-Climate Model (GCM)-oriented Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) Cloud Product (GOCCP), the related cloud thermodynamic phase climatology product and the Cumulus and Stratocumulus CloudSat-CAlipso Dataset (CASCCAD). Dr. Cesana, will oversee all aspects of the proposed research. He will lead the different activities (1 to 5), which include the evaluation of the low-cloud types and their response to climate warming in the GISS-ESM model, the improvement of low-cloud feedbacks based on observational constraints and the analysis of the effect of low-cloud feedbacks improvement on the equilibrium climate sensitivity in GISS-ESM. Additionally, he will also be involved in the writing of the related publications and presenting the results in relevant conferences.

A postdoctoral scientist (2 total FTE over the 4-year proposed project, 0.5 FTE per year) is yet to be recruited at the Center for Climate Systems Research, Earth Institute, Columbia University. He will collaborate with the PI to evaluate of the representation of the low-cloud types and their response to climate warming in the GISS-ESM model (Activity 1 and 2), to improve the representation of low-cloud feedbacks based on observational constraints (Activity 3 and 4) and to analyze the effect of low-cloud feedbacks improvement on the equilibrium climate sensitivity in GISS-ESM (Activity 5), besides the writing of the related publications and possibly presenting the results in relevant conferences.