Conclusion


Images

figure 9
Excerpt from the song"Both Sides Now by Judy Collins.

One major point that can be concluded from this survey of patterns of outgoing longwave radiation is that clouds play a very significant role in the variability of our weather and climate. Unfortunately clouds are very difficult to describe mathematically in weather and climate models. For this reason, progress in both weather prediction and climate simulation is limited by our ability to characterize the occurrence and effects of clouds. I can't help but be reminded of this in one of my favorite popular songs from several years ago by Judy Collins (figure 9) entitled "Both Sides Now", which has a line that goes 'I've looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down and still somehow it's clouds illusions I recall, I really don't know clouds at all.'

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