The behavior of clouds is a crucial unknown in climate modeling. This is because many different concepts of physics play a crucial role in cloud formation, including fluid transport, thermal physics, droplet formation, and radiation. In recent years, we have come to appreciate the role of organization of clouds: specific patterns of clouds form for a reason, and those patterns in themselves impact the properties of the clouds, such as reflection of sunlight or rain formation. My work focuses on large computational studies of interactions between clouds and their environment. In this talk, I will discuss what makes cloud behavior so non-linear, how they are currently represented in the climate models, and some ideas on how to improve representation of cloud organization in those climate models.
Join us on Friday, Feb. 2, for this exciting presentation from Thijs Heus, associate professor of physics at Cleveland State University. Lunch will be available in Hayes 216 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and the presentation will begin in Hayes 211/213 at 12:10 p.m. We hope to see you there!