Non-linear interactions between tropical and Arctic climate variability and change

尽管相隔数千公里，但地球上热带和极地地区的气候变化是高度相互关联的。近几十年来，北极变暖的速度是全球平均速度的两倍多，这种现象被称为北极放大。新出现的证据表明，北极变暖的很大一部分可能远离热带地区。然而，热带影响北极的大气和海洋过程尚不完全清楚。越来越多的人认识到，北极变暖的影响并不局限于北极：北极发生的事情不会停留在北极（参见这个解释视频：https://bit.ly/2Csj1Yg）。最先进的气候模型实验表明，北极海冰的减少可以引发远至热带地区的气候变化。但是，我们仍然缺乏对这种联系的详细了解。位于热带和两极之间的是中纬度地区，那里居住着大量人口。中纬度地区的天气模式同时受到热带和极地的影响，但区分出一个地区对另一个地区的影响并非易事。最近有很多关于北极变暖和中纬度地区极端天气增加之间可能存在联系的猜测。这个令人兴奋的前沿项目将探索热带、中纬度和极地地区气候变化之间的联系。为了在这些重要的研究领域取得进展，学生将大量利用一项新的国际气候模拟活动的成果：极地放大模式比对项目（PAMIP）。PAMIP包括新的模式实验，以帮助阐明北极放大的原因和后果。在导师的支持下，候选人将有机会将项目设计的重点放在他们最感兴趣的问题方面。预计该项目将包括对观测到的气候记录和气候模式输出的综合分析，并可能为候选人提供学习如何进行自己的气候模式模拟的机会，作为PAMIP的一部分。该奖学金提供了慷慨的旅行和培训预算（1.5万英镑），以及英国气象局（UK Met Office）提供的额外CASE支持（每年1000英镑）。

Despite being thousands of kilometres apart, climatic changes in the tropical and polar regions of the planet are highly interconnected. In recent decades, the Arctic has warmed more than twice as fast as the global average - a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. Emerging evidence suggests that a substantial portion of Arctic warming may be driven remotely from the tropics. Yet, the atmospheric and oceanic processes through which the tropics influence the Arctic are not fully understood. There is also increasing recognition that the effects of Arctic warming are not limited to the Arctic: what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic (see this explainer video: https://bit.ly/2Csj1Yg). State-of-the-art climate model experiments suggest that Arctic sea-ice loss can trigger climate changes as far away as the tropics. But again, a detailed understanding of such connections is lacking. Lying in between the tropics and the poles are the mid-latitudes, where a vast number of people live. Weather patterns in mid-latitudes are affected by both tropical and polar influences, but separating out one regions' influence on another is not an easy task. Recently there has been much speculation about a possible link between Arctic warming and increased extreme weather in mid-latitudes. This exciting and cutting-edge project will explore these connections between climate changes in the tropics, mid-latitudes and polar regions.To make progress in these important research areas, the student will make heavy use of output from a new international climate modelling activity: the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project (PAMIP). PAMIP includes novel model experiments to help elucidate both the causes and consequences of Arctic amplification. With support from the supervisors, the candidate will have the opportunity to shape the project design to focus on aspects of the problem of most interest to them. It is anticipated that the project will involve a mix of analysis of observed climate records and climate model output, and potentially, opportunities for the candidate to learn how to conduct their own climate model simulations as part of the PAMIP. This studentship comes with a generous budget for travel and training (£15k), with additional CASE support (£1k per year) from the UK Met Office.