Effects of 3‐D clouds on atmospheric transmission of solar radiation: Cloud type dependencies inferred from A‐train satellite data

Abstract Three‐dimensional (3‐D) effects on broadband shortwave top of atmosphere (TOA) nadir radiance, atmospheric absorption, and surface irradiance are examined using 3‐D cloud fields obtained from one hour's worth of A‐train satellite observations and one‐dimensional (1‐D) independent column approximation (ICA) and full 3‐D radiative transfer simulations. The 3‐D minus ICA differences in TOA nadir radiance multiplied by π, atmospheric …