Workshops

January 11 - 13, 2016  

This workshop consisted of hour-long talks and discussion forums where attendees openly discussed problems and challenges relevant to understanding of this unique and important aspect of the Earth system.

January 21-22, 2015

The Arabian Sea is a unique, complex and important region of Earth's ocean. Shifting monsoonal winds generate a circulation with strong interannual variability and a semi-permanent vortex called the Great Whorl. Spring and summer southwesterly winds drive upwelling along the Somali cost -- the world's only western boundary upwelling zone -- resulting in a spring bloom. Winter northeasterly winds generate convection in the northern region, leading to a second annual bloom, and thus huge net annual productivity. Combined with its sluggish ventilation, this high productivity makes the Arabian Sea the site of the world's most intense oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). In a large subsurface region, oxygen levels are so low the system contributes a significant fraction of global oceanic denitrification. The intertwining of these complex biogeochemical and physical dynamics hinders a complete understanding of the system, and leaves many open research questions of global importance. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that climate change may bring significant shifts in the circulation and ecosystem. This workshop brings together experts on both the physical and biogeochemical dynamics of the Arabian Sea, in hopes of sharing knowledge and generating new approaches to the problem.

• Convened By: Prof. Shafer Smith, Co-Principal Investigator, CPCM & Associate Professor of Mathematics, Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

March 4-6, 2014

Meteorologists have access to an ever increasing amount of data, such as observations from the many satellites orbiting the Earth, extensive networks of radiosondes used for weather forecasting around the globe, and dedicated measurement campaigns. A critical challenge is how to best use this vast amount of data to gain new insights on the physical world around us. Such an undertaking requires an understanding of the nature and limitations of these observations, the development of new methods to analyze large amounts of data, and the reassessment of our theories and models in light of the newly gained information. This workshop brings together atmospheric scientists with a broad range of expertise in observations, data analysis and modeling to discuss how to improve our understanding of the role of clouds in the Earth's atmosphere.

April 2-4, 2013

The Center for Prototype Climate Modeling held its second annual workshop from April 2-4, 2013 in Abu Dhabi. The ubiquitous presence of highly energetic oceanic motions on lateral scales of 100m to 100km (the submesoscale) is a relatively recent revelation. Sharp fronts, filaments and submesoscale vortices enhance mixing, and importantly, are often associated with intense vertical transport. As dynamics on these scales have significant impacts on the ocean’s biogeochemical cycle, it will be necessary to incorporate such effects in the next generation of ocean climate models. Moreover, as observational networks increase in spatial resolution, prediction models will need to find new ways to assimilate data from submesoscale observations.

The goal of the workshop, organized by Shafer Smith and Andrew Majda, was to bring together scientists with expertise in modeling and observing submesoscale physical and biological activity, along with those exploring new ideas in assimilating and filtering turbulent signals into prediction models. The workshop was attended by renowned atmosphere and ocean scientists who presented their recent research, paying particular attention to point out open problems, and speculated on ways in which new models, observations and filtering techniques may come together.

March 20-22, 2012

Meteorology traditionally separates the atmosphere between the tropics, where variations in weather tied to convective processes and planetary-scale circulation, and the midlatitudes, where synoptic systems dominate day-to-day weather. Yet, interactions between these two broad regions are key to many aspects of the climate system. Atmospheric scientists discuss how new observations and modeling approaches can provide new insights on the nature of these interactions.

March 20, 2012

Our day-to-day experience with the weather could lead us to believe that wind is unpredictable and chaotic. However, when considered on the global scale, the atmosphere exhibits a well-defined pattern. This pattern plays a key role in the climate system, transporting energy and water across latitudes, preventing the poles from becoming too cold and the equatorial regions from becoming too warm. This lecture addresses key features of this circulation and how they relate to weather around the globe.

• Speaker: Olivier Pauluis, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU; Co-Principal Investigator, The Center for Prototype Climate Modeling