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Overview

Research in the GMAO emphasizes the use of satellite observations to address questions about climate variability, water and energy budgets, composition, and weather and climate prediction. Global ocean, atmosphere and land surface models are developed as components of assimilation and forecast systems, as well as for addressing the weather and climate research questions identified in NASA's science mission. Our research includes topics such as the generation and analysis of comprehensive climate-relevant data sets to support studies of variability and change.

Models

The GMAO has developed a world-class coupled general circulation model for seasonal to decadal climate variability. The model is developed in unison with the assimilation system. Many applications of climate change science are local and involve impacts on weather extremes and short-term climate variability. To make best use of the information afforded by satellite observations, as well as to address climate research issues, requires weather-capable climate models and climate-reliable weather models.

Data Assimilation

The GMAO's assimilation research is focused on enhancing the use of NASA satellite data for weather and climate prediction and for climate analyses. Guidance on observing system issues is provided through Observing System Experiments (OSEs) and through an emerging Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) capability.

Subseasonal-to-Decadal Variability and Prediction

One of the key questions to be addressed in NASA's science mission is how well transient climate variations can be understood and predicted. The GMAO explores the impact of coupled prediction strategies and observations on prediction skill at seasonal to interannual timescales, with a focus on identifying the role that specific observations play in extending prediction skill. Research extends to the shorter (subseasonal) timescales beyond deterministic weather, and decadal timescales focusing on understanding the sources and predictability limits of long-term droughts.

Constituent Modeling and Data Assimilation

Trace gases and aerosols interact with climate and weather by their direct impact on radiation, and by indirect impacts on clouds. In collaboration with atmospheric chemistry and physics modeling groups, GMAO scientists examine a range of problems related to constituents. Middle atmospheric chemistry studies focus on interactions between ozone and climate, examining the recovery of the ozone layer. Tropospheric modeling addresses problems related to climate change, long-range pollution transport and air quality. NASA's satellite data are assimilated to increase understanding of atmospheric composition and, through advanced inversion techniques, to estimate distributions of surface sources and sinks of carbon. There is an emphasis on participation in field missions in conjunction with satellite missions.

Aerosol Transport and Assimilation

Cloud-Radiation-Precipitation Interdisciplinary Study

This research focuses on using 3D cloud-resolving models to guide the transfer of information from cloud, radiation, and precipitation measurements at satellite pixel scales to global modeling and forecast systems. The strategy is to use cloud-resolving model simulations under observational constraints as benchmarks for improving parameterized moist physics schemes and for selecting appropriate control variables for assimilating cloud and precipitation information.