Collaborative Research: Large-Scale Atmospheric Response to the North Pacific Western Boundary Current Fluctuations and its Potential Predictability

该项目旨在了解北太平洋西边界流波动对中纬度大气环流的影响以及其中的天气模式。具体而言，该项目使用高分辨率数据集和大气模型模拟来了解海洋锋面的变化（强海表温度对比区域）沿着黑潮和亲潮海流的东部延伸影响上覆大气。 这种海表温度变化对大气环流的潜在影响多年来一直是一个活跃的研究课题，但没有得出结论。然而，最近的观察表明，短空间尺度上强烈的海表温度对比可能会影响局部表面风，模型模拟表明，更高的模型分辨率是正确模拟此类效应的关键因素。 因此，在这里进行的研究将试图解决的问题，目前驱动的波动的北太平洋海洋锋使用新的高分辨率数据集和模式模拟大气的影响，因为洋流变化慢于中纬度天气模式，强大的影响，洋流波动上覆盖的大气可能意味着，大气的变化的一部分是可以进行长期预测。 这一发现将有利于长期天气预报，特别是在美国西部。 此外，这项工作将支持和指导博士后研究人员，从而支持大气科学家的早期职业生涯。

This project seeks to understand the impact of fluctuations of the western boundary currents in the North Pacific on the midlatitude atmospheric circulation and the weather patterns embedded in it. Specifically, the project uses high-resolution datasets and atmospheric model simulations to understand how shifts in the oceanic fronts (regions of strong sea surface temperature contrast) along the eastern extensions of the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents affect the overlying atmosphere. The potential influence of such sea surface temperature variations on atmospheric circulation has been an active research topic for many years, with inconclusive results. However, recent observations suggest that strong sea surface temperature contrasts over short spatial scales can affect local surface winds, and model simulations suggest that higher model resolution is a key ingredient in properly simulating such effects. Thus, research conducted here will attempt to resolve the issue of the atmospheric impact of current-driven fluctuations of North Pacific oceanic fronts using new high-resolution datasets and model simulations.Since ocean currents vary more slowly than midlatitude weather patterns, a strong impact of ocean current fluctuations on the overlying atmosphere could imply that some portion of atmospheric variability is accessible to long-range prediction. Such a finding would be beneficial for long-range weather prediction, particularly in the Western United States. In addition, the work will support and mentor a postdoctoral researcher, thus supporting the early career of an atmospheric scientist.