Phase-synchronization of tropical variability in global climate model simulations of the recent past

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Scott Osprey (University of Oxford)
• Monday 15 October 2012, 14:00-15:00
• British Antarctic Survey, conference room.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Scott Hosking.

If external to BAS, please email the organiser in advance to gain access to the building

The quasibiennial oscillation (QBO) and semiannual oscillation (SAO) are the dominant modes of variability occuring in the tropical stratosphere. Previous studies have shown that the onset of the westerly phase of the QBO is seeded by the descending phase of the SAO . A recent study by Read and Castrejon-Pita (2012) showed evidence for phase-synchronisation of the QBO with the SAO .

Timeseries of monthly-mean zonal mean zonal wind are examined in model simulations submitted to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). Twenty-two models were examined for the presence of a QBO in the equatorial stratosphere, of these only 3 displayed this behaviour. These models were then tested for phase synchronisation; only one model (MPI-ESM-MR) showed behaviour consistent with observations.

This talk is part of the British Antarctic Survey series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Biology
• British Antarctic Survey
• British Antarctic Survey, conference room
• Cambridge Energy Seminars
• Cambridge Environment
• Climate Science Seminars within Cambridge
• Featured lists
• Life Sciences
• Life Sciences
• NanoDTC Energy Materials Talks
• Queens' College Politics Society
• School of Physical Sciences
• Talks related to atmosphere and ocean dynamics and climate science
• history
• my_list

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.