In this project the PI will explore the physical processes that drive the intra-seasonal fluctuations of equatorial atmospheric angular momentum, which account for half of the variance of equatorial atmospheric angular momentum. The research focuses on four topics: the dynamical mechanisms by which the mountain torque alters the amplitude and phase of the equatorial atmospheric angular momentum vector, a comparison of the relative importance of the processes driving the intra-seasonal fluctuations, the relationship between equatorial atmospheric angular momentum dynamics and the background flow, and how atmospheric processes drive polar motion, i.e. fluctuations in both the pole position relative to the earth's crust and in the equatorial components of the angular momentum of the solid earth. Reanalysis and outgoing longwave radiation datasets as well as a timeseries of pole position will be used.
Broader Impacts: This research will be of interest to solid-earth geophysical scientists and satellite dynamics scientists.
