Satellite observations of the clear-sky, atmosphere-ocean solar absorption are compared to simulations from a global climate model. Variations in solar absorption are analyzed under conditions of constant solar geometry to high-light spatially coherent features. From this analysis, the observed zonal and interannual variability in clear-sky solar absorption is shown to be substantially larger than that predicted by the model. Explanations for the greater observed variability are considered in terms of aerosols, surface wind effects, and water vapor. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union