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.
We have an opening for a Ph,D, student to start Fall 2025 as a part of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. The project seeks to better understand cloud structures in and surrounding the southern hemisphere branch of the ITCZ over the east Pacific Ocean with a long-term goal of alleviating the double ITCZ bias.
Recent News
Fouzia and Alex publish their ITCZ and convectively coupled waves research in the Journal of Climate
On March 22, Fouzia, Alex, and co-authors (Justin Stachnik and Brett Chrisler) published a paper entitled, “The Relationship between Convectively Coupled Waves and the East Pacific ITCZ” in the Journal of Climate: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/37/8/JCLI-D-23-0398.1.xml. Congrats to all involved! Significance Statement Convectively coupled atmospheric waves (CCWs) are a critical feature of tropical weather and are an important…
On February 16, Alex, Indrani, Marissa and co-authors (Gregory Cesana and Charlotte DeMott) published a paper entitled, “Dynamical Importance of the Trade Wind Inversion in Suppressing the Southeast Pacific ITCZ” in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JD039571). Congrats to everyone involved! The three key points of the paper are: East Pacific ITCZ surface wind…
On January 28–February 1, Alex and Fouzia attended the 104th American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD. Alex had an oral presentation entitled, “Dynamical Importance of the Trade Wind Inversion in Suppressing the Southeast Pacific ITCZ” (https://ams.confex.com/ams/104ANNUAL/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/427237) and a poster presentation entitled, “Different flavors of horizontal moisture advection influence equatorial Rossby wave and…
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Ready for the #coolestjobever?
We're seeking a #postdoc for our #IndigenousKnowledge program. Enrich understanding of marine ecosystems and promote sustainable stewardship of the ocean through #collaborativeresearch!
Ready for the #coolestjobever?
We're seeking a #postdoc for our #IndigenousKnowledge program. Enrich understanding of marine ecosystems and promote sustainable stewardship of the ocean through #collaborativeresearch!
🍁🦃🍂 Are you getting into the Thanksgiving spirit? Share the seasonal vibes with a new virtual background!
A variety of seasonal imagery is available for free download at http://whoi.edu/virtual-backgrounds/
🍁🦃🍂 Are you getting into the Thanksgiving spirit? Share the seasonal vibes with a new virtual background!
A variety of seasonal imagery is available for free download at http://whoi.edu/virtual-backgrounds/