Climate Dynamics 753
General Circulation of the Atmosphere
Course Projects
Overall Project Requirements
- Brief literature review of recent papers to provide motivation
- Original computations based on data sets provided
- Written paper (approx. 10 pages)
- Oral Presentation (approx 20 minutes)
- Can work in teams
Suggested Project Topics
- Observational: Based on Reanalysis Only
- Trend of the Mean Meridional Circulation in pressure and Θ coordinates (1957-2012)
- Tropical structure and dynamics of the Madden-Julian-Oscillation (MJO). For example, what is
the contribution of the meridional circulation to the MJO; does the traditional view of the MJO occurring only
in the zonal/pressure plane need to be modified?
- Extra-tropical responses to the MJO on intra-seasonal time scales. What are the mechanisms
for the upper level rotational response in mid-latitudes to the MJO convection?
- Extra-tropical circulations which may stimulate the MJO on intra-seasonal time scales.
What are the mechanisms?
- Midwinter suppression of baroclinic wave activity in the Pacific: What are the mechanisms?
- Ensemble Forecasts from ECMWF Coupled Model (MINERVA)
- ENSO-Forced Midlatitude Response:
What are the mechanisms coupling tropical SST with extra-tropical circulation.
How do the storm tracks (baroclinic activity) modulate this response?
- Tropical SST - Indian Summer Monsoon connection. How do both the SSTs and three-dimensional
ocean circulation affect the Monsoon? How realistic is the coupled model?
What is the relative importance of the Pacific and Indian Oceans?
Project Data sets (corresponding to Suggested Topics)
- Observational: Based on Reanalysis Only
- Mean Meridional Circulation project:
Monthly mean ERA40 reanalysis (1979-2019) and ERA-Interim reanalysis (1979-2012)
- MJO projects: Daily ERA-Interim reanalysis
MJO multivariate MJO Index:
MJO mulitvariate MJO Index
and note the link to the actual
daily values
- Mid-winter suppression project:
Daily ERA-Interim reanalysis and synoptic wave fields provided by Dr. Straus
- Ensemble Forecasts from ECMWF Coupled Model (MINERVA)
- Monthly mean data from ECMWF coupled model forecasts; May and Nov starts; 1980-2011; 51 ensemble members