WCR: Water Cycle in a Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere System: A Theoretical Study

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

The PI will develop a theoretical framework with regard to a new hypothesis on the cause and effect of the water cycle. The hypothesis will be examined using both physical and observational arguments. Based on his conceptual model of maximum entropy production, the PI will consider a differentially heated ocean-atmosphere system with a poleward heat transport and will calculate meridionally changing quantities such as the transport of atmospheric water. The hypothesis is that the hydrological cycle is coupled to surface temperature and the energy transport. This theoretical study has implications for the representation of the water cycle in general circulation models.