Atmospheric convection regulates the heating and mixing of the upper ocean. Ocean processes influence sea surface temperatures, surface fluxes, and atmospheric convection. The interwoven processes span time and space scales. How do the representations of these ocean-atmosphere coupled processes in the DOE E3SM affect MJO simulation?. Supported by DOE.

When rain falls onto the ocean, a freshwater lens, or rain layer can form on the surface. We perform experiments with regional ocean and ocean-atmosphere coupled models to investigate how these cool, stable rain layers resist mixing and affect atmospheric convection over the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool. Supported by NSF.

Shallow trade cumulus exist in a variety of organized states that modulate the radiative heating and cooling of the atmosphere. This project uses observations and high-resolution modeling to understand how ocean mesoscale variability interacts with the atmospheric boundary layer to regulate the organization of convection in trade wind regimes. Supported by NOAA CVP.

Fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum in climate models are parameterized using bulk inputs of wind speed and near-surface discontinuities in temperature, moisture, and momentum. Our work seeks to understand how different representations of surface fluxes in climate models contributes to uncertainty in future climate projections. Supported by NOAA MAPP.

Easterly and westerly low-level wind anomalies associated with the MJO force oceanic Kelvin and equatorial Rossby waves. These ocean wave modes may affect subsequent MJO events and also interact with ENSO cycles. This project will develop a suite of diagnostics to assess sources of ocean wave mode biases in climate models. Supported by NOAA MAPP.

The MJO SST Sensitivity Model Intercomparison Project. This informal MIP is organized by members of the WGNE MJO Task Force. We aim to answer the question "What aspects of coupled model SST anomalies are most important for tropical mean state moisture patterns and MJO eastward propagation: their patterns, persistence, or phasing?" Modeling centers from all countries are invited to participate. For more information, see msmip.colostate.edu.