Analysis of the atmospheric energy budget: A consistency study of available data sets

This study examines the following question: Are the recently available clim ate data sets consistent with each other in describing the atmospheric ener gy budget? If they are not, what is the sign of the systematic bias and how large is it? The atmospheric radiative cooling in this budget analysis is derived from satellite measurements of radiative fluxes at the top of the a tmosphere and satellite-algorithm products at the surface. Atmospheric tran sports are derived from the National Centers for Environmental Protection/N ational Center for Atmospheric Research and the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis products. Surface turbulent heat fluxes are derived from products on the basis of Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Da ta Sets and reanalysis. Spatial and temporal averaging is performed to redu ce random uncertainties in each data set. It is found that these data sets result in an unbalanced atmospheric budget with a residual of 20 W m(-2) wh en averaged from 50 degrees N to 50 degrees S. The sign and magnitude of th is systematic bias are shown to be consistent with the recently debated ins ufficient absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere.