Dynamics and Transport in the Tropospheric Equatorial Westerly Ducts

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The project will investigate the dynamical interactions and tracer transports between the tropics and midlatitudes, especially during Northern winter. The equatorial upper troposphere is occupied by a belt of easterlies during much of the year, except winter, when westerly winds are present over the central/eastern oceans. The easterlies are an effective barrier for equatorward propagating stationary Rossby waves, and the wintertime "westerly duct" thus presents an opening that allows vigorous tropical-extratropical interaction. Dr. Waugh will conduct a dynamically oriented analysis of meteorological fields and water vapor observations to understand how tropical-extratropical interactions through this conduit impact tropical convection, and the upper tropospheric distribution of water vapor (a major component in global warming), ozone, and trace gases. These trace substances exert a profound control on the earth's climate, directly through radiative impacts, and indirectly, through the altered balanced circulation. Dr. Waugh will use a range of dynamical and transport models to provide context for his observational findings.