9615568 Mak This award provides support for a continuing investigation into the fundamental nature of winter storm tracks in the northern hemisphere. The project involves three topics: (1) the influence of surface sensible heat input over the north-western Pacific and Atlantic Oceans; (2) the impacts of condensational heating on the dynamics of storm tracks; and (3) an exploration of potential factors responsible for the mid-winter minimum in the Pacific storm track. The first two investigations will involve modeling studies of the role of diabatic heating processes in the evolution of storm tracks while the third will involve diagnostic studies of the 40-year global reanalysis data set produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Storm tracks are the regions where synoptic scale eddy activity is statistically most prevalent and intense. Understanding the dynamics of storm tracks is of fundamental interest as it relates to the general circulation of the atmosphere - storm tracks are where the most of the poleward transport of heat and momentum by synoptic eddies occurs. A considerable portion of the precipitation in the mid-latitudes is associated with storm tracks. Understanding and accurately simulating storm tracks has obvious bearing on improving numerical weather prediction and regional climate forecasting. ***
