NextG-Climate Science EUREC4A-OA

Improving the representation of small-scale nonlinear ocean- atmosphere interactions in Climate Models by innovative joint observing and modeling approaches.

EUREC4A-OA will implement ad-hoc innovative observations and a hierarchy of numerical simulations focusing on mesoscale and submesoscale ocean dynamics and the atmospheric boundary layer at scales ranging from 20 m to 1000 km over the northwest tropical North Atlantic. The aim is to advance our knowledge of the phenomenology and representation of air-sea interactions, physical and biogeochemical ocean small-scale non-linear processes in ESMs but also in NWPs, S2Ss and decadal forecasts operational systems.


EUREC4A-OA will bring together international specialists of ocean, atmosphere physical and biogeochemical observations and numerical modelling as well as scientists working on numerical parameterization, operational systems and future projections to address four objectives:

  • Assessing the impact of the diurnal cycle on energy, water and CO2 ocean-atmosphere exchanges and quantifying the modification of diurnal cycle and the related exchanges by meso-scale and submeso-scale features and other extreme conditions
  • The identification and quantification of the processes ruling the ocean-atmosphere exchanges and uptake of heat, momentum and CO2 at the ocean nonlinear small scales (from a few tens of meters to 500 km)
  • The role of various processes (diurnal cycle, ocean nonlinear small scales, boundary layer aerosols) on the atmosphere shallow convection and cloud formation
  • To provide improved models metrics and parameterizations for the above processes to be integrated in operational prediction systems and ESMs.

EUREC4A-OA associated partners (12 international institutions contributing with more than 35 scientists) will cooperate in integrating new knowledge into improved model metrics and parameterizations. EUREC4A-OA results will enhance capability to deliver novel information that will have a significant impact on science and society.

SPONSORS