A comparison of two representations of subgrid‐scale cloud structure in a global model: radiative effects as a function of cloud characteristics

Two approaches to account for the radiative impacts of subgrid‐scale variability of cloud in a general circulation model (GCM) are compared: (i) deterministic reduction of cloud optical depth imbedded within the radiative transfer scheme and (ii) stochastic subcolumns employed with the Monte Carlo Independent Column Approximation (McICA). This article analyzes impacts, as a function of cloud phase and cloud fraction, due to replacement of …