News
GFDL’s Ocean Model set to Enhance NOAA’s Hurricane Forecasting
June 24, 2024 – June marks Ocean Month, so it is fitting to acknowledge the significant impact that oceans have on climate and everyday life, and to highlight the importance of continued research and innovation in ocean modeling. At GFDL, the latest version of the lab’s Modular Ocean Model, MOM6, represents a major advancement in modeling oceanic and climatic processes. Developed with a commitment to enhancing the understanding of the ocean’s influence on climate, MOM6 continues the legacy of its predecessors while introducing new advances in scientific collaboration and open-source development.
Research Highlight
Crucial role of sea surface temperature warming patterns in near-term high-impact weather and climate projection
June 17, 2024 – Recent studies indicate that virtually all global climate models have difficulty simulating observed sea surface temperature (SST) trend patterns over the past four decades. Models produce enhanced warming in the eastern Equatorial Pacific (EPAC) and Southern Ocean (SO) warming, while observations show intensified warming in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) and slight cooling in the eastern EPAC and SO.
Research Highlight
Skillful seasonal prediction of wind energy resources in the contiguous United States
June 12, 2024 – This study explored the extent to which the strong year-to-year variations of wind energy resources in the contiguous United States may be predictable using GFDL’s SPEAR seasonal prediction system. The authors demonstrate SPEAR’s capability for predicting the observed strong year-to-year variations of spring wind energy resources with great skill over the Southern Great Plains, in which more than half of the total U.S. wind capacity is located.
Award
P.C.D. (Chris) Milly Elected to National Academy of Engineering
June 4, 2024 – P.C.D. (Chris) Milly, a Research Hydrologist at GFDL from 1988 to 2022, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for “advances in the understanding of global and continental hydrology and their interactions with a changing climate.” This prestigious recognition places Dr. Milly among 114 new members elected this year for their contributions to engineering research, practice, or education. Dr. Milly’s election acknowledges his seminal work in hydrology and climate science, especially his insights into the impacts of climate change on freshwater availability.
Research Highlight
Cloud Radiative Effects Associated With Daily Weather Regimes
May 28, 2024 – This research Investigates the effect of high-impact storms on Earth’s radiation budget, in order to better constrain climate models and improve weather and climate forecasts. Using detailed satellite observations and reanalysis data, the author categorized daily weather patterns into different types and measured the cloud radiative effects (CRE) associated with each type.
Research Highlight
The GFDL variable-resolution global chemistry-climate model for research at the nexus of US climate and air quality extremes
May 20, 2024 – In the U.S., air pollution includes contributions from multiple local human and natural sources, as well as transported sources like wildfire smoke from Canada, dust plumes from Africa, and intercontinental pollution from Asia.
Research Highlight
Poleward intensification of midlatitude extreme winds under warmer climate
April 29, 2024 – Given the significant risks posed by near-surface extreme wind speeds associated with midlatitude cyclones to lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure, it is imperative to understand their physical changes, including magnitudes and patterns, under human-induced global climate change.
News
Understanding Earth through GFDL’s Advanced Global Models
April 25, 2024 – In celebration of Earth Month, GFDL shares how the lab is investing to meet weather and climate goals through some of its advanced global models: CM4, SPEAR, ESM4, and SHiELD. These realistic models play an important role in enhancing our comprehension of the Earth system, each providing unique insights into the science underpinning our understanding and enabling predictions and projections.
Research Highlight
Kilometer-scale global warming simulations and active sensors reveal changes in tropical deep convection
March 28, 2024 – Under global warming, changes in the location and structure of the deep convection in the tropics have profound consequences for tropical climate. The tropics are characterized by the ubiquitous presence of high ice clouds formed by detrainment from precipitating deep convection. The bulk of these clouds are so-called anvil clouds in extensive formations that shield the convective centers.