Aerosol–Cloud Interactions over the Indian Subcontinent Using an Information-Theoretic Approach

Aerosol–cloud interactions (ACIs) are critical in modulating the Earth’s energy balance and water cycle at both regional and global scales. This study examines ACIs over the Indian subcontinent during 2003–2020 using the third edition of the satellite application facility on climate monitoring (CM SAF) cloud, albedo, and surface radiation dataset derived from advanced very high-resolution radiometer data, known as CLARA-A3. An information-theoretic approach is applied to examine the dominant meteorological variables modulating the dynamics of ACI over the Indian subcontinent. The objective is to disentangle the relative contributions of meteorological variables and aerosol optical depth to cloud properties. Causal analysis reveals that within individual regions, aerosol loading, atmospheric instability, and wind speed primarily influence cloud properties. However, across different regions, aerosol loading and relative humidity are the main driving factors. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the ACI over the Indian subcontinent and offers potential to improve the accuracy of regional climate forecasts.