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

合作研究：大规模大气对北太平洋西边界洋流波动的响应及其潜在的可预测性

• 批准号: 1035325
• 负责人: Matthew Newman
• 金额: $ 53.08万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1035325&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Large; Scale; Atmospheric

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.

该项目旨在了解北太平洋西部边界流的波动对中纬度大气环流及其天气模式的影响。 具体来说，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亲潮东部延伸的海洋锋（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，但尚未得出结论。然而，最近的观察表明，短空间尺度上强烈的海面温度对比可能会影响局部表面风，模型模拟表明，较高的模型分辨率是正确模拟此类影响的关键因素。 因此，这里进行的研究将尝试使用新的高分辨率数据集和模型模拟来解决北太平洋洋锋由洋流驱动的波动对大气的影响问题。由于洋流的变化比中纬度天气模式慢，因此洋流的强烈影响上层大气的洋流波动可能意味着大气变化的某些部分可以进行长期预测。 这一发现将有利于长期天气预报，特别是在美国西部。 此外，这项工作还将支持和指导一名博士后研究员，从而支持大气科学家的早期职业生涯。