Lecturer with rank of: Professor
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Cyclones and fronts are the most common systems in any weather map and affect the atmospheric circulation on all scales, from local to planetary. Considerable skill has been developed to forecast these systems a few days in advance. However, in the region of large scale orography significant errors still contaminate the forecasts. Mountains partially block the flow and affects the evolution of the cyclone-frontal system. My interest is to understand and better simulate the effects of orography on those systems.
The role cyclone-scale eddies plays in affecting the environment in which they developed is now considered of paramount importance. My research aims to understand the parameters that control the development and evolution of cyclone systems and to understand why some regimes produce violent storms and others support packets of waves that are maintained for many days. The research goal is to more accurately assess the impact of cyclone-scale eddies in the planetary scale circulation. Cyclones are the fundamental units in which the planetary circulations is shaped and modified. A better understanding of the elements that control cyclone evolution may render more accurate simulation of these systems by general circulation models used for weather forecasts. As a consequence, improving the areas of intense cyclonic activity over the planet, would produce more accurate weather forecast from weekly to seasonal timescales
Orlanski, I., and B. Gross, 2000: The life cycle of baroclinic eddies in a stormtrack environment. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 57, 3498-3513.
Orlanski, I., 1998: On the poleward deflection of storm tracks. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 55, 2577-2602.