Observations, Reanalyses and Ice Cores: A Synthesis of West Antarctic Climate

该奖项支持一项为期三年的工作，通过研究观测和预测模式数据集，利用非线性技术提高对南极气候的了解；改进和扩展了利用冰芯资料重建过去南极气候的方法；并重建观测记录中缺失的数据，有可能追溯到前仪器时代。拟议的活动的智力价值在于有机会提高对南极过去、现在和未来气候的了解，南极是全球气候系统的一个关键组成部分。自组织地图（SOM）是一种新兴的、强大的非线性工具，将用于将自由大气再分析数据分类为原型模式（SOM状态）。然后训练前馈人工神经网络（FF-ANNs）从覆盖仪器时代的冰芯数据中预测首选SOM状态。训练后的ff - ann将把SOM状态的重建扩展到冰芯数据的整个长度，从而实现气候的长期重建。利用ff - ann和自由大气再分析数据填补观测记录中的数据空白，将改善地表条件的历史。利用上述基于冰芯的大气环流重建，这些记录也可以延伸到仪器前时代。该项目更广泛的影响与地球与矿物科学博物馆（位于地球科学大楼内）的活动有关，通过为博物馆的固定和移动地球墙展示开发交互式图形可视化/演示文稿，将项目成果/工具带给更广泛的受众。学院的一名或多名本科生将参与该项目，并可选择在全国会议/研讨会上展示项目成果。这项工作还将有助于“早期职业”研究者的持续发展，包括有机会继续建立（和完善）在教学、推广、合作等方面的相关和有用技能。

Reusch/0636618This award supports a three-year effort to use nonlinear techniques to improve understanding of Antarctic climate through studies of observational and forecast model data sets; improve and extend reconstructions of past Antarctic climate from ice-core data; and reconstruct data missing from the observational records, potentially into the pre-instrumental era. The intellectual merit of the proposed activity arises from the opportunity to improve understanding of the past, present and future climate of the Antarctic, a key component in the global climate system. Self-organizing maps (SOMs), an emerging, powerful nonlinear tool, will be used to classify free-atmosphere reanalysis data into archetypal patterns (SOM states). Feed-forward artificial neural networks (FF-ANNs) will then be trained to predict the preferred SOM states from ice-core data covering the instrumental era. The trained FF-ANNs will extend the reconstructions of SOM states to the full length of the ice core data, leading to long-term reconstruction of climate. Histories of surface conditions will be improved by filling data gaps in observational records using FF-ANNs and free-atmosphere reanalysis data. These records may also be extended into the pre-instrumental era using the above ice-core based reconstructions of the atmospheric circulation. The broader impacts of the project relate to activities with the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum (co-located in the Geosciences building) which will bring project results/tools to a wider audience through development of interactive graphical visualizations/presentations for the Museum's fixed and traveling GeoWall displays. One or more undergraduates from the College will be involved in the project with an option to also present project results at a national meeting/workshop. The work will also contribute to the continuing development of an "early career" investigator, including the opportunity to continue building (and refining) relevant and useful skills in teaching, outreach, collaboration, etc.