Climate change during 1985-1999: Cloud interactions determined from satellite measurements

[1] We have extended two recent studies that present evidence for significant decadal variability in the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) tropical radiative energy budget by combining satellite measurements of the TOA energy budget and cloud cover with measurements of the Earth's surface temperature. The domain studied is from 40 S to 40degreesN. As in the prior studies, which were restricted to lower latitudes, there is a significant increase in the TOA outgoing longwave radiation during the period 1985 to 1999 together with an increase in solar (shortwave) radiation absorbed by the climate system. It is suggested that these changes are related to an observed reduction in cloud cover.