On the right track for tropical clouds
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 09:30
in Earth & Climate
Think of a tropical storm about the size of Alaska. Large and lumbering, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) affects weather patterns in every corner of the world. Unlike its well-known cousin El Niño, the MJO is both variable and unpredictable, earning the title of the largest and least understood element in the tropical atmosphere. However, scientists at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and collaborators at the Indian Institute of Technology recently discovered what forces cause the MJO to begin and keep moving. Understanding the MJO could allow accurate weather forecasts beyond 10 days, enabling better prediction of severe storms.