Applied Math Seminar | Karen Smith, Stratosphere-troposphere coupling in an idealized atmospheric model

Dr. Karen Smith
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Ocean and Climate Physics

Title

Stratosphere-troposphere coupling in an idealized atmospheric model

Abstract

It is now well-established that the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere between ~10-50km, has an influence on the troposphere below. The nature of this influence has been clearly characterized from observations and simulations, yet the underlying dynamical mechanisms that couple the stratosphere and troposphere are not fully understood. Idealized atmospheric models have been widely used to study this problem given short observational records and the lack of stratosphere-resolving coupled climate models.
 

Although, there are now many stratosphere-resolving climate models, dynamical insights can still be gained by using idealized models. I will discuss two of my recent projects that make use of an idealized atmospheric model to examine 1) the role of stratosphere-troposphere coupling in the circulation response to Arctic amplification and 2) the importance of planetary-scale waves in the tropospheric eddy feedback mechanism that couples stratospheric perturbations to the troposphere.