Tropical Biases Workshop Agenda


Day 1 (Wed 28 May), Topics/Issues:


SESSION 1: NCAR and GFDL Models (Session Chair: P. Chang): Comprehensive presentation of tropical over-ocean biases on seasonal and longer timescales in AGCM, OGCM and CGCM model in NCAR and GFDL models. SESSION 2: Global Model I (Session Chair: Leo Donner): Tropical biases in other global models.
SESSION 3: Global models II (session Chair: Paul Schopf): Presentations based on other models or interesting sensitivity studies. Emphasis on what makes a difference in the distribution of tropical convection and near-equatorial SST. GROUP DISCUSSION: Which processes make the biggest difference and how do we diagnose how well we are doing? RECEPTION: cash bar and hors d'oeuvres reception will be held in the Holiday Inn.

Day 2 (Thur 29 May), Topics/Issues::


GROUP REPORT: General discussion of which processes control tropical ocean biases in coupled models. SESSION 1: Using observations and small-scale models to reduce biases (Session Chair: Paul Schopf): SESSION 2: Biases in Pacific ENSO/Tropical Atlantic (Session Chair: Jeff Kiehl): DISCUSSION: (1) How important is observational uncertainty in creating current biases or process errors? Are particular process studies called for? What new long-term observations (e.g. ARGO, enhanced TAO) would have maximal impact? (2) To what extent do mean and seasonal biases impact our ability to model ENSO and related variability and to forecast them with CGCMs?

Day 3 (Fri 30 May), Topics/Issues:


SESSION 1: Role of idealized models in understanding C/A/OGCM dynamics and of new diagnostics (Session Chair: Max Suarez): DISCUSSION: What have we learned from idealized models about tropical biases in real models? Are there promising avenues to pursue in future?