Assessment of smoke shortwave radiative forcing using empirical angular distribution models

The Clouds and the Earthʹs Radiant Energy System (CERES) data has been used by several studies to calculate the top of atmosphere (TOA) shortwave aerosol radiative forcing (SWARF) of biomass burning aerosols over land. However, the current CERES angular distribution models that are used to convert measured TOA radiances to fluxes are not characterized by aerosols. Using our newly developed empirical angular models for smoke aerosols we calculate the SWARF over South America for eight years (2000–2008) during the biomass burning season. Our results indicate that when compared to our new angular distribution model-derived values, the instantaneous SWARF is underestimated by the CERES data by nearly 3.3 Wm− 2. Our studies indicate that it is feasible to develop angular models using empirical methods that can then be used to reduce uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing calculations. More importantly, empirically-based methods for calculating radiative forcing can serve as a benchmark for modeling studies.