Evolution of cloud vertical structure and number of days with cloud detection at Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Clouds play a very important role in the planet’s energy budget as they interact with incoming solar radiation (shortwave) and outgoing terrestrial radiation (longwave). Depending on their characteristics, they can affect the temperature of the Earth’s surface. The vertical structure of clouds also affects the accuracy of meteorological and climatological models that allow us to make predictions. Variations in these magnitudes can be a clear indicator of the consequences of climate change. This study examines the temporal evolution of the vertical structure of the first cloud layer and the number of days with cloud detection derived from radiosondes in Barcelona, Spain, from 1998 to 2022. The results obtained show that the cloud base height has decreased by -0.36 m/year, the cloud top height has increased by 0.09 m/year, and the thickness of the clouds has increased by 0.46 m/year. As for the number of days with cloud detection, an increase of 9.12 days per year has been observed.