COMPARISON OF SURFACE-TEMPERATURE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AND SATELLITE MEASURED CLOUDINESS AND RADIATION BUDGET

Mean surface temperature extremes over land areas during 1983 to 1990 are discussed in terms of satellite-measured cloud and radiation param eters. These show that cloud fluctuations induce changes in the temper atures with the decrease of temperature maximum stronger than the incr ease of temperature minimum because clouds cause changes in incident s hortwave surface flux as well as downward long-wave radiation. Sensiti vity to top of the atmosphere radiation is complicated by the interven ing clouds and atmosphere. A comparison is also made to a sample gener al circulation model simulation showing the same effects.