Collaborative Research: A Modeling Study of Air-Sea Interaction Associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

The collaborative research will be guided by two notions based on current research on the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO): (a) mechanisms for air-sea interaction of the MJO depend on the detailed structure of MJO, and (b) oceanic feedback to the MJO should be viewed as a modification of the general role of surface latent/sensible heat fluxes in the MJO by SST variation. Following these two guidelines, the proposed research will (i) investigate the oceanic response and feedback to the MJO in the context of two MJO conceptual models based on observations and (ii) explore the oceanic feedback mechanisms within the framework of studying the general role of surface heat fluxes in the MJO. To achieve a thorough understanding of large-scale physical processes of air-sea interaction, the research project will first focus separately on the oceanic response and feedback to the MJO, before any attempt of coupling is made. The work is important because it will yield insights on the interaction between the MJO and ENSO, this will have implications for better seasonal forecasting of ENSO.