1 The Proceedings for The 6th International Conference on Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Change August 19 - 21, 2013, Hong Kong Editors: Dr. Banghua Yan Dr. Xiaozhen Xiong Prof. Zhanqing Li Dr. Jingfeng Huang 2 EFFECTS OF AIR-SEA COUPLING ON THE BOREAL SUMMER INTRASEASONAL OSCILLATIONS OVER THE TROPICAL INDIAN OCEAN Ailan Lin1,2, Tim Li, Xiouhua Fu2, Jing-Jia Luo3, Yukio Masumoto3 1 Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou, China 2. IPRC and Department of Meteorology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 3. Research Institute for Global Change, JAMSTEC, Yokohama, Japan Abstract The effects of air-sea coupling over the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) on the eastward- and northward-propagating boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) are investigated by comparing a fully coupled (CTL) and a partially decoupled Indian Ocean (pdIO) experiment using SINTEX-F coupled GCM. Air-sea coupling over the TIO significantly enhances the intensity of both the eastward and northward propagations of the BSISO. The maximum spectrum differences of the northward- (eastward-) propagating BSISO between the CTL and pdIO reach 30% (25%) of their respective climatological values. The enhanced eastward (northward) propagation is related to the zonal (meridional) asymmetry of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA). A positive SSTA appears to the east (north) of the BSISO convection, which may positively feed back to the BSISO convection. In addition, air-sea coupling may enhance the northward propagation through the changes of the mean vertical wind shear and low-level specific humidity. The interannual variations of the TIO regulate the air-sea interaction effect. Air-sea coupling enhances (reduces) the eastward-propagating spectrum during the negative Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) mode, positive Indian Ocean basin (IOB) mode and normal years (during positive IOD and negative IOB years). Such phase dependence is attributed to the role of the background mean westerly in affecting the wind-evaporation-SST feedback. A climatological weak westerly in the equatorial Indian Ocean can be readily reversed by anomalous zonal SST gradients during the positive IOD and negative IOB events. Although the SSTA is always positive to the northeast of the BSISO convection for all interannual modes, air-sea coupling reduces the zonal asymmetry of the low-level specific humidity and thus the eastward propagation spectrum during the positive IOD and negative IOB modes, while strengthening them during the other modes. Air-sea coupling enhances the northward propagation under all interannual modes due to the persistent westerly monsoon flow over the northern Indian Ocean. IMPROVEMENT OF AEROSOL RETRIEVAL NEAR BOUNDARY-LAYER CLOUDS Alexander Marshak, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Rob Levy, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Lorraine Remer, University of Maryland Baltimore County Norman Loeb, NASA/Langley Research Center Tamas Varnai, University of Maryland Baltimore County Robert F. Cahalan, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Abstract 3 We apply a two-layer model to correct 3D cloud radiative effects on aerosol retrievals near boundary-layer clouds. This is the first time that this method is being applied to a full MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) granule. The process of the correction includes converting Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) broadband flux to visible narrowband flux, computing the clear-sky radiance enhancement, and retrieving aerosol properties. We find that the correction leads to smaller values in aerosol optical depth (AOD), the Ångström exponent, and the small mode aerosol fraction (SMAF) of the total AOD. It also makes the average aerosol particle size near clouds larger than far away from clouds, which is more realistic than the opposite behavior observed in operational retrievals. We discuss issues in the current correction method as well as our plans to validate the algorithm. THE WORLD CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: GRAND CHALLENGES FOR THE DECADE AHEAD Antonio J. Busalacchi, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA Abstract The World Climate Research Programme was established in 1980 under the joint sponsorship of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU) and, since 1993, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The main objectives for the WCRP since its inception have been to determine the predictability of climate and to determine the effect of human activities on climate. These objectives are just as valid today as they were 30 years ago. In addition, since 2005 as part of WCRP?s strategic planning at the time, there has been an additional overlay to the program focusing on an increasing range of practical applications of climate research of direct relevance, benefit and value to society. Over the past several years the sponsors of the WCRP have started several new strategic initiatives. In 2009 in Geneva the WMO sponsored the World Climate Conference 3. The outcomes of which was the decision to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services to strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services. Three weeks after the World Climate Conference, under the auspices of the IOC, the oceanographic community convened in Venice for Ocean Obs 09 to strengthen and enhance the international framework for sustained world ocean observing and information systems supporting the needs of society about ocean weather, climate, ecosystems, carbon and chemistry. Looking to the future, ICSU initiated an Earth System visioning process, together with the scientific community and the international funding organizations. In parallel the International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA) developed the Belmont Challenge that identified the need to deliver knowledge needed for action to mitigate and adapt to detrimental environmental change and extreme hazardous events. The outcomes of both the ICSU visioning and the Belmont Challenge have led to the proposal of a new 10 year initiative in Earth System Science for Global Sustainability known as Future Earth. 4 In response to these activities of its sponsors, over the past several years the WCRP leadership and its network of affiliate researchers have focused their efforts on: (a) coordinating international climate research, modeling and prediction in support of the priorities identified by WCRP sponsors and stakeholders; (b) developing a future research strategy and priorities in response to the rapidly emerging needs for science-based climate information for decision- making, in close consultation with the international science community; and (c) establishing a vigorous capacity-development initiative to train the next generation of scientists and research networks at the global and regional levels. As result of these efforts, this presentation will focus on the Grand Challenges in research of the physical climate system as identified by the WCRP for the decade ahead. NOAA COASTWATCH OKEANOS OCEAN COLOR OPERATIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM Banghua Yan1, I. Simpson2, E. Rodriguez2, D. Van Pelt2, S. Spangler2, and A. Irvin1 1 NOAA/OSPO/Satellite Products and Services Division, USA 2 SSAI Inc., USA Abstract In recent years, the NOAA CoastWatch Okeanos Ocean Color Operational Production System (OPS) has been providing a series of high quality ocean color operational products for our user communities, e.g., 1 km daily and bi-monthly mean chlorophyll concentrations, and chlorophyll concentration anomaly compared to 61-day averages from MODIS/AQUA. The products of remote sensing reflectance at 667 nm are also available. The products have been beneficial in assessing water quality and tracking potentially harmful algal blooms in order to protect public health. For example, the chlorophyll concentration product has been used to understand and predict harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico by the NOAA CO-OPS. Recent efforts also continue to provide more MODIS/AQUA ocean color products to user community. The chlorophyll frontal operational products are expected to be available in June 2013. Operational products of Global Emiliania huxleyi (Ehux) bloom distribution may be available in 2013 if NOAA operational users are identified. More importantly, a new NOAA ocean color products Quality Assurance (QA) monitoring tool is also added to the Okeanos OPS. Many MODIS products will be extended to the NPP Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) in 2014. Therefore, it is expected that our future operational ocean color product system offers additional valuable information NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SUMMER MONSOON INTENSIFIED BY MEGA-ENSO AND AMO Bin Wang a,b, Jian Liuc, Hyung-Jin Kimd, Peter J. Webstere, So-Young Yimb, and Baoqiang Xiangb a. Department of Meteorology and b. International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822; c. Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment of Ministry of Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China 5 d. Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0001, Japan e. School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308 Abstract Prediction of monsoon changes in the coming decades is important for infrastructure planning and sustainable economic development. The decadal prediction involves