Mauger G.S. and Norris J. R., 2007: Meteorological bias in satellite estimates of aerosol-cloud relationships. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L16824.

Online article

Correlations between aerosol optical depth and cloud cover are reduced considerably if the covariations of the cloud cover with lower tropospheric stability are taken into account.

Lilly, D. K., 1968: Models of cloud-topped mixed layers under a strong inversion. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 94(401), 292

The pioneering paper which introduced the mixed layer model concept for describing well-mixed cloudy boundary layers. A must-read for all involved in boundary layer cloud research

The abstract is here, but the paper is not freely available online.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/113521010/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Schubert, W.H., 1976: Experiments with Lilly's Cloud-Topped Mixed Layer Model. J. Atmos. Sci., 33, 436–446.

This paper by Schubert is a more readable introduction to the application of mixed layer theory to stratocumulus clouds.

Direct Link: http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0469%281976%29033%3C0436%3AEWLCTM%3E2.0.CO%3B2

Schubert, W.H., J.S. Wakefield, E.J. Steiner, and S.K. Cox, 1979: Marine Stratocumulus Convection. Part I: Governing Equations and Horizontally Homogeneous Solutions. J. Atmos. Sci., 36, 1286–1307.

Schubert, W.H., J.S. Wakefield, E.J. Steiner, and S.K. Cox, 1979: Marine Stratocumulus Convection. part II: Horizontally Inhomogeneous Solutions. J. Atmos. Sci., 36, 1308–1324.

A double-bill classic of the genre. Part I takes Lilly's mixed layer concepts and applies them to stratocumulus clouds including treatment of latent heating effects on buoyancy fluxes. An absolute must-read for stratocumulus fans around the world.

Part II examines solutions with time-varying meteorology which are more applicable to the real atmosphere.

Direct Links:

http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0469%281979%29036%3C1286%3AMSCPIG%3E2.0.CO%3B2 http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0469%281979%29036%3C1308%3AMSCPIH%3E2.0.CO%3B2

Bretherton, C.S., and M.C. Wyant, 1997: Moisture Transport, Lower-Tropospheric Stability, and Decoupling of Cloud-Topped Boundary Layers. J. Atmos. Sci., 54, 148–167.

Another great paper, this time exploring how mixed layer theory can be used to predict its own inapplicability by inducing negative buoyancy fluxes below cloud base, and using this to propose a physical mechanism ("deepening-warming") for how the stratocumulus-topped mixed layer breaks up as it flows downstream over increasing sea-surface temperatures. The role played by drizzle is also explored and found to be potentially important, although it is not a focus of the conceptual model in this paper.

Direct Link:

http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0469%281997%29054%3C0148%3AMTLTSA%3E2.0.CO%3B2

Kiehl, J. T. (2007), Twentieth century climate model response and climate sensitivity, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L22710, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL031383

This is an important short paper that highlights that uncertainties in our understanding of the impacts of aerosols are hampering our ability to constrain climate sensitivity, and therefore 21st century warming.

Direct Link:

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2007/2007GL031383.shtml

-- TWikiGuest - 16 Oct 2007