diff --git a/experiments/ClimaEarth/components/atmosphere/climaatmos.jl b/experiments/ClimaEarth/components/atmosphere/climaatmos.jl
index 51fc558292..e8461feaea 100644
--- a/experiments/ClimaEarth/components/atmosphere/climaatmos.jl
+++ b/experiments/ClimaEarth/components/atmosphere/climaatmos.jl
@@ -236,6 +236,11 @@ function Interfacer.update_field!(atmos_sim::ClimaAtmosSimulation, ::Val{:co2},
     end
 end
 # extensions required by the Interfacer
+function Interfacer.update_field!(sim::ClimaAtmosSimulation, ::Val{:emissivity}, field)
+    # sets all 16 bands (rows) to the same values
+    sim.integrator.p.radiation.rrtmgp_model.surface_emissivity .=
+        reshape(CC.Fields.field2array(field), 1, length(parent(field)))
+end
 function Interfacer.update_field!(sim::ClimaAtmosSimulation, ::Val{:surface_direct_albedo}, field)
     sim.integrator.p.radiation.rrtmgp_model.direct_sw_surface_albedo .=
         reshape(CC.Fields.field2array(field), 1, length(parent(field)))
diff --git a/src/Interfacer.jl b/src/Interfacer.jl
index b5073ce471..47d42d9c4d 100644
--- a/src/Interfacer.jl
+++ b/src/Interfacer.jl
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ update_field!(
     sim::AtmosModelSimulation,
     val::Union{
         Val{:co2},
+        Val{:emissivity},
         Val{:surface_direct_albedo},
         Val{:surface_diffuse_albedo},
         Val{:surface_temperature},