This project will further investigations in atmospheric angular momentum and the associated torques, focusing specifically on various aspects of variability in the axial and equatorial components of atmospheric angular momentum which have not been closely examined in previous studies. Observational data, as well as climate model data from the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project will be used. The availability of independent observations of changes in the Earth's rotation will allow an independent test of atmospheric models using angular momentum computed from the modeled wind and pressure fields. The mechanisms by which the atmosphere drives Chandler wobble fluctuations will also be examined. The results of this work will be made available to the scientific community via the Internet and via peer- reviewed publications, and will, therefore, have broad impacts related to climate dynamics and climate modeling.
