Irradiance Enhancement Events in the Coastal Stratocumulus Dissipation Process
Abstract
We characterize the irradiance enhancement events that occur when coastal stratocumulus clouds dissipate, caused by the breakup of the cloud layer into smaller cloud elements. The analysis includes 91 days in 2016 and 2017 that presented transitions from stratocumulus to clear skies in Southern California, using solar irradiance measurements and a clear sky model to describe the enhancement events. We find that a breakup process that starts later in the day lasts longer and is linked to stronger enhancement, as well as stronger down-ramps. Strong enhancement events were also linked to higher wind speeds during the breakup and lower solar zenith angles.