Models for the Earth's Atmosphere and Ocean
Organizer: Doug Nychka
(nychka@cgd.ucar.edu)
National Center for Atmospheric Research

Description:
One of the grand challenges facing the geosciences is to construct numerical/stochastic models that reproduce key features of the Earth's physical and biological systems at temporal and spatial resolutions that provide meaningful information about natural variation in the climate system and about the practical effects of climate change on the environment.

Statistical science has an important role to play in this activity, especially in combining observations with physical models to yield estimates of geophysical processes. Because of the complexity of geophysical processes, such as the interaction between the atmosphere and ocean, it is difficult for statistical researchers to make salient contributions without some familiarity with the scientific issues. Also, due to extensive observational records and model output, statisticians can also benefit from the experience of geophysical scientists for handling large data sets.

Format:
This session will emphasize the collaboration between geophysical modelers with statistical researchers. Talks will be given by the atmospheric scientists to provide a introduction to the relevant numerical models and the scientific issues. The talks will be given by statisticians to indicate how some of these modeling questions can be addressed through statistical techniques.

Participants:
Ralph Milliff (presentation, Air-Sea Interaction in the Labrador Sea: Deep Water Formation and Climate)
Ralph Milliff is a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Trained as an oceanographer, he studies the dynamics of the atmosphere/ocean boundary using satellite derived measurements of surface winds and sea surface topography.

L. Mark Berliner (presentation, Hierarchical, Space-Time Models: Physically Based Models for Combining Geophysical Data)
L. Mark Berliner is a Professor of Statistics at Ohio State University, a former Project Leader for the Geophysical Statistics Project at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and a Project Manager for Numerical Modeling at the National Institute of Statistical Sciences.

Timothy Hoar, National Center for Atmospheric Research and Christopher K. Wikle, University of Missouri, Columbia (poster, Computational Advanced in Gibbs Sampling of Massive Spatio-Temporal Models)

Rachel Buchberger (poster, Stochastic Parameterizations in General Circulation Models for the Atmosphere: Cloud Motion)
National Center for Atmospheric Research and Colorado State University