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

本项目旨在了解北太平洋西部边界洋流波动对中纬度大气环流的影响及其所包含的天气模式。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沿黑潮和潮流东部延伸的海洋锋（海面温度对比强烈的区域）的变化如何影响上覆大气。这种海面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，但尚无定论。然而，最近的观测表明，在短空间尺度上强烈的海面温度差异可以影响当地的地面风，模式模拟表明，更高的模式分辨率是正确模拟这种影响的关键因素。因此，这里进行的研究将试图利用新的高分辨率数据集和模式模拟来解决北太平洋锋流驱动波动的大气影响问题。由于洋流的变化比中纬度气候模式的变化要慢，洋流波动对上覆大气的强烈影响可能意味着，可以对大气变化的某些部分进行长期预测。这样的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.