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
Alex’s wins WHOI Independent Study Award on the impact of cloud-related factors on tropical rainfall
On May 29th, 2025, Alex had a WHOI Independent Study Award proposal funded. The title of the project is “The impact of cloud-related factors on Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) biases in atmospheric reanalysis data.” The funding goes from June 2025 through May 2027. Congrats, Alex!
On May 20th, 2025, Chelone Laws arrived at WHOI to start her summer research project in Woods Hole as part of WHOI’s Summer Student Fellowship and the NSF Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) programs. Chelone’s project is focused on using satellite-based and Argo float data to understand how upper ocean fresh layers…
On May 15th, 2025, Alex presented his research at the WHOI Board of Trustees and Members of the Corporation Joint Meeting. His presentation was entitled, “The Interconnections between Clouds, Storms, and Rainfall over the Ocean.” Alex discussed his group’s work on low clouds, the ITCZ, and education using rotating tanks efforts (in collaboration with the…
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The secret lives of big fish! 🦈
If you missed our #OceanEncounters live event on Wednesday, you can watch anytime online! Take a deep dive into the amazing world of ocean predators: https://hubs.li/Q0413G2W0
The secret lives of big fish! 🦈
If you missed our #OceanEncounters live event on Wednesday, you can watch anytime online! Take a deep dive into the amazing world of ocean predators: https://hubs.li/Q0413G2W0
Join us for Ocean Encounters TONIGHT at 7:30pm (ET) to learn more about the biggest fish in the ocean—and what they can teach us about ocean health.
👉 Register for this live virtual event: https://hubs.li/Q03_P8wv0
#OceanEncounters is an official event of the @UNOceanDecade
Join us for Ocean Encounters TONIGHT at 7:30pm (ET) to learn more about the biggest fish in the ocean—and what they can teach us about ocean health.
👉 Register for this live virtual event: https://hubs.li/Q03_P8wv0
#OceanEncounters is an official event of the @UNOceanDecade