A major focus is the global hydrologic cycle, how this cycle affects society, and how we can better predict it at all time and space scales. We are continuing to help develop an experimental regional model embedded within a global model to study various aspects of the GEWEX Continental International Project (GCIP) water and energy cycles over the Mississippi river basin. Surface hydrologic models are also being investigated. We continue to study ways to improve cloud parameterizations in global models.
We are studying decadal variability in the Pacific Ocean with coupled ocean-atmosphere models. We have identified a decadal mode which may be useful for long term predictions over North America. We are also beginning to model and analyze oceanic salinity variations. We are also looking at longer-term features forced by observed sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies as well as by anthropogenic increases in CO2 and other trace gases.
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