About the Lab
Welcome to the tropical climate dynamics research group at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)! We are interested in atmospheric and oceanic processes in the tropics and their interactions with higher latitudes. We study a variety of topics, including the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), marine atmospheric boundary layer clouds, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), the Hadley circulation, equatorial waves, tropical cyclones, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and tropical-extratropical interactions. One of our primary goals is to improve understanding of observations of these complex phenomena using a hierarchy of models and observations. With this improved understanding, weather and climate prediction can be guided in the right direction.
We are also involved in science education and outreach, particularly at WHOI and in the local Cape Cod community. From bringing hands-on rotating tank climate science experiments to K–12 and college classrooms to mentoring middle- and high-school students and teachers on research projects, we strive to motivate a generation of future scientists.
Recent News
Natalie Kongable was just recognized for her high school senior research project where she worked with our Tropical Atmospheric Dynamics group perfecting fluid experiments on extratropical cyclones using the DIYnamics Lego-based tank system and presenting said experiments at local middle schools in eastern Iowa. Congrats, Natalie! For more info, see the DIYnamics blog post.
Alex and two other scientists were added as core team members of the DIYnamics Project, which is a multi-institutional project that develops affordable, accessible Earth science demonstration and teaching materials to K-12 and universities. For more info, see the DIYnamics blog post.
Alex’s grant entitled, “Nonlinear Dynamics of Daily-weekly Boreal Spring InterTropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Shifts over the Eastern Pacific Ocean” was awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Climate & Large-Scale Dynamics Program. Funding for this project will be for three years beginning in May 2020. See more details on our ITCZ Dynamics Research Page and the official…
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Many marine gastropods, including conchs and sea slugs, spend their early lives as plankton. Translucent membranes called velum help them maintain buoyancy and capture food particles, but disappear once the animal becomes a bottom-dweller.
📸 by Jialing Cai/homoplankton.com
Many marine gastropods, including conchs and sea slugs, spend their early lives as plankton. Translucent membranes called velum help them maintain buoyancy and capture food particles, but disappear once the animal becomes a bottom-dweller.
📸 by Jialing Cai/homoplankton.com
Like many of us "of a certain age," there are rumors about whether or not #Alvin has had any work done... after all, the deep sea sub doesn't exactly look 60!
📣 Find out all you ever wanted to know (and more) about ALVIN: http://go.whoi.edu/alvin60
Like many of us "of a certain age," there are rumors about whether or not #Alvin has had any work done... after all, the deep sea sub doesn't exactly look 60!
📣 Find out all you ever wanted to know (and more) about ALVIN: http://go.whoi.edu/alvin60