Estimation of Entrainment and Detrainment Rates in Cumulus Clouds Using Global Satellite Observations

Parameterizations of entrainment and detrainment rates (epsilon and delta) are crucial for climate models. Although satellite-derived estimates of epsilon are available in the literature, there has been a deficiency in satellite-based retrievals of delta. To fill this gap, a recently developed approach is applied to satellite observations. The retrieved epsilon and delta are validated against the aircraft observations confirming the reliability of the satellite-based epsilon and delta. Results show that the global epsilon and delta exhibit significant latitudinal variations and land-ocean contrast, but no significant interhemispheric differences. Near the equator, epsilon and delta are relatively low, and they increase with latitude. Both epsilon and delta are notably higher over oceans (1.62 and 1.33 km-1, respectively) than over land (0.92 and 0.64 km-1, respectively). Furthermore, this global data set can further develop and validate parameterizations of epsilon and delta in climate models.