Joint Seminar: Insights from statistical physics for tropical convection
A theoretical understanding of deep convection in the tropics is essential to interpret observations or to build a parameterization for a numerical model. An important first stage is to characterize the spatial and temporal averages, using ideas such as quasi-equilibrium or the weak temperature gradient approximation. The next step is to consider deviations from the mean: variability and organization of convection. Statistical physics attempts to predict macroscopic properties of a system with a large number of component parts, and could provide some useful tools for characterizing the convecting atmosphere. In this talk I will consider four applications of methods from statistical physics to tropical convection: quasi-equilibrium and adjustment timescales, fluctuations and mass flux distributions, percolation and cloud size scaling, and finally, coarsening and self-aggregation.
Date
01.07.2025
Time
15:15–16:15 h
Place
- Bundesstr. 53, room 022/023
- Seminar Room 022/023, Ground Floor, Bundesstrasse 53, 20146 Hamburg, Hamburg
Organizers
- Julia Windmiller