COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Dynamic-Radiative Feedbacks in Extratropical Energy and Moisture Cycles

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Interactions between atmospheric eddy dynamics and other physical processes (radiation, convection, surface fluxes, etc.) play a significant role in the energy and water cycles that maintain the extratropical temperature and moisture distributions of the troposphere. These interactions thus play a significant role in short-term climate variability, but our understanding of how they work is incomplete. Dr. Branscome and his collaborators will conduct a series of numerical experiments designed to study the evolution of feedbacks in the extratropical atmosphere among transient eddies, moisture, surface fluxes, and radiation through the temperature and moisture distributions which are, in turn, maintained by the eddies. The time scales under consideration are periods of several days to several months. With this study, the PIs are building on their series of results from studies of the interactions between baroclinic eddies. Under the last grant, they looked at the effect of moisture. With this award, they will explore the radiative effect. This research is an important part of current efforts to better understand, and eventually predict, short-term climate. This grant consists of two awards which are being made to separate institutions for a collaborative effort. The other award is ATM-9123552 to Dr. Gutowski of Iowa State University.