Award Abstract # 0917609
Collaborative Research: The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-Mediterranean Teleconnection: Observations and Dynamics

NSF Org: AGS
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: August 19, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: August 19, 2009
Award Number: 0917609
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Anjuli Bamzai
AGS
 Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: August 15, 2009
End Date: January 31, 2012 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $415,544.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $415,544.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $149,584.00
History of Investigator:
  • Jeffrey Shaman (Principal Investigator)
    jls106@columbia.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Oregon State University
1500 SW JEFFERSON AVE
CORVALLIS
OR  US  97331-8655
(541)737-4933
Sponsor Congressional District: 04
Primary Place of Performance: Oregon State University
1500 SW JEFFERSON AVE
CORVALLIS
OR  US  97331-8655
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): MZ4DYXE1SL98
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Climate & Large-Scale Dynamics
Primary Program Source: 01000910DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 574000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

Numerous studies have demonstrated statistical associations between the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and precipitation in the Mediterranean basin (southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and the Middle East). The dynamical bases for these teleconnections have yet to be identified. The North African-Asian (NAA) jet extends from the subtropical Atlantic Ocean across North Africa, the Mediterranean, South Asia and Japan to the North Pacific Ocean. Atmospheric jets, such as the NAA jet, have been shown to act as waveguides to atmospheric Rossby wave disturbances and, therefore, to create teleconnections between widely separated regions.

The Mediterranean basin lies in the path of the NAA jet. In their previous work, these investigators showed that the NAA jet is modulated throughout the year by conditions in the equatorial Pacific associated with ENSO. This teleconnection between ENSO and the NAA jet appears to be mediated by stationary barotropic Rossby waves.

This project will examine the hypothesis that the ENSO-Mediterranean teleconnection is the result of changes in the NAA jet caused by ENSO. Observations and a hierarchy of models will be used to investigate the dynamics of the ENSO-NAA jet teleconnection and to determine the extent to which precipitation in the Mediterranean region is controlled by ENSO-modulated changes to the NAA jet.

The broader impacts and the societal relevance of this research are in the economic, social and epidemiological importance of climate, and especially precipitation, variability in the Mediterranean region.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Jeffrey Shaman and Eli Tziperman "An atmospheric teleconnection linking ENSO and Southwestern European precipitation" Journal of Climate , v.24 , 2011 , p.124
Jeffrey Shaman and Eric Maloney "Shortcomings in climate model simulations of the ENSO-Atlantic hurricane teleconnection" Climate Dynamics , 2011 doi:10.1007/s00382â??011â??1075â??

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