Scale Interactions in Convectively-Coupled Tropical Waves

George N. Kiladis
Physical Sciences Division, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado

Absract

Much of the variability in tropical weather is related to the passage of thunderstorm activity associated with cells of deep convection. It is well-known that a portion of this activity is organized into waves, ranging from squall lines with a scale of around 100 km on up to planetary scale features such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The MJO is known to interact strongly with the Asian monsoon system and also the tropical oceans, especially in the equatorial Pacific. As of yet, numerical models of the atmosphere are not capable of simulating the correct scales of the MJO, if they have such a disturbance at all. Systematic errors in models can provide valuable clues to improving the simulation of equatorial atmospheric waves, a crucial step to the successful coupling of ocean and atmospheric models.