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
On March 26th, Alex traveled to New York City to host seminars at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the City College of New York. Both talks were entitled, “We need to simulate more double ITCZs and less southern ITCZs in reanalyses and coupled climate models.”
From March 10–25, Alex wrapped up the last intensive observing period of weather balloon launches for the 3rd Wind Forecast Improvement Project (https://www2.whoi.edu/site/wfip3/). We would like to thank the approximately 60 local volunteers who helped with the field operations, both in Woods Hole and on ships transecting the offshore area south of Cape Cod.
In February 2025, Alex received the James E. and Barbara V. Moltz Early Career Science Fellowship. Alex is planning to use this funding to support preliminary work for an several upcoming proposals. Congrats, Alex!
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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