Dynamics of Teleconnection Patterns

Teleconnection patterns such as the Pacific/North American and North Atlantic Oscillation play an important role in climate variability. Contrary to the research that focused on the monthly and seasonal averaged characteristics, the dynamical properties of these patterns will be studied on the two-week time-scale which underlies their cycles of growth and decay. The various teleconnection patterns will be examined to find out if their dynamics can be unified into a single coherent framework. Using reanalysis data and a numerical model, the life cycle of teleconnection patterns will be studied using the hypothesis of wave breaking. The grant will also address the question of the relation of the North Atlantic Oscillation to the annular mode, how the North Atlantic Oscillation influences the stratospheric jet, and what dynamical processes determine the lower tropospheric temperature anomalies associated with the teleconnections if the oscillation is driven by wave breaking aloft.

This research has the potential to improve weather and climate predictions, which would have great benefit for societal activities. A graduate student will be educated and trained under this grant.