Researchers Co-Convene Unique Joint Session at AMS Conference
August 20, 2007
For the first time at an American Meteorological Society (AMS) meeting, a joint session will be held between the air-sea and upper atmosphere communities. Michael Alexander and Judith Perlwitz, of the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory will co-convene the "Middle Atmosphere/Troposphere/Ocean Interactions" session on August 22, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. Researchers attending the 15th Conference on Air-Sea Interaction and the 14th Conference on Middle Atmosphere will come together to discuss interactions across three major components of the earth system: the ocean, troposphere, and stratosphere.
Background:
While ocean-troposphere and troposphere-stratosphere coupling have been
widely investigated, the impact of including coupling with the third
component on climate variability is not well understood. There is
increasing evidence, however, that the coupling among these three
components is important in determining the predictive capability of the
climate system from weekly to decadal time scales. NOAA operational
forecast models do not currently include many of these potentially
important air-sea and upper atmosphere processes and feedback mechanisms.
Significance:
This session could help facilitate new research between the air-sea and
upper atmosphere communities on the interactions of the climate system, its
predictability, and its response to natural climate variability and
anthropogenic climate change. A more comprehensive representation of
air-sea and upper atmosphere interactions and feedback is an untapped area
that may improve the performance of climate system models. These activities
support NOAA's mission goals of understanding climate variability and
change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond, and serving
society's need for weather and water information.
| Contact: Judith Perlwitz |