Mountains have a profound influence on weather and climate through the modification of synoptic weather systems (e.g., cyclones, anticyclones, and fronts), generation of dynamically and thermally driven wind systems, and enhancement or supression of precipitation processes. Climate varies dramatically with elevation, aspect, and exposure, while snowfall and rainfall, winds, wildfire dynamics, air quality, and smoke dispersion are all influenced by local effects associated with complex terrain.
Our research uses the western United States as a natural laboratory in which to examine atmospheric processes and prediction over complex terrain. In addition to orographic effects, the weather and climate of this region is also strongly influenced by land-surface and boundary layer processes, as well as moist convection. Our approach is multiscale and includes investigations of orographically modified cyclone and frontal evolution, orographic and lake-effect precipitation processes, and the use of numerical and statistical techniques to improve weather and climate prediction over complex terrain.
Powered by Zope 