Vertical-Homogeneity Assumption Causing Inconsistency Between Visible- and Infrared-Based Cloud Optical Properties

A possible cause of radiative inconsistency between visible- and infrared (IR)-based optical properties is examined and corrected for. This study is motivated by significant IR modeling biases of around -7 K found in our previous study. In that study, the model simulation was conducted using cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective radius retrieved from the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and cloud top and base heights measured by CloudSat. For single-layered and relatively optically thick clouds (COT >; 10 ), uncertainties in the COT and effective radius are shown to have a small contribution to the IR modeling biases; making an assumption that the clouds are vertically homogeneous seems to cause most of the IR modeling biases. By creating a cloud extinction profile from the CloudSat data, IR modeling biases are reduced to -2 K instead of - 7 K.