Talk by Addisu Semie, Ph.D., Addis Ababa University: Influence of the organization of deep convection on the radiation budget and precipitation extremes in the tropics

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Heatmap image infrared thermography

When

noon to 1 p.m., March 13, 2024

Where

Seminar Format

Available via Zoom webinar. Contact the department to subscribe to the email list (zoom link provided in announcement).

Abstract

Deep convection exhibits a wide range of spatial organizations in the tropics. These organizations, as well as the role that they may play in climate, have been widely investigated using idealized modeling frameworks. Here, we extend this investigation by analyzing the organization of deep convection using a long time series of geostationary satellite observations. We characterize the diversity and the variability of convective organizations in data using the recently introduced diagnostic tool called ”organization index (Iorg) “. Based on this index, we highlight different types of convective organization, and study relationships between the mesoscale organization of deep convection and precipitation extremes. We found evidence for a modulation of the strength of tropical precipitation extremes by the spatial organization of deep convection, especially over land.

In addition, we investigated the role of spatial organization of deep organization in modulating the Earth’s radiation budget. Our result is consistent with the suggestion from modeling studies that the spatial organization of deep convection substantially influences the radiative balance of the Earth. This emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors that control convective organization and the need to monitor their changes as the climate warms.

Bio

Addisu G. Semie earned his Ph.D. in Environmental and Industrial Fluid Mechanics from the University of Trieste and subsequently served as a postdoctoral researcher at CNRS, Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique (LMD) in Paris, France. Presently, he holds the position of assistant professor at the Computational Data Science program at Addis Ababa University. His research interests revolve around investigating the impact of deep convection on influencing the radiation budget, extreme events, and various environmental phenomena in the tropics, utilizing a variety of convective organization metrics. Furthermore, his recent research endeavors focus on the application of artificial intelligence to advance weather and climate forecasting.

Addisu Semie Email | Website | Google Scholar

Contacts

Syliva Sullivan, Host