| The earth's
atmosphere and oceans sustain
a rich variety of motions ranging from Rossby waves, equatorial Kelvin
waves, meandering jet streams and oceanic currents, and
quasigeostrophic
turbulence on large scales, to surface ocean waves, atmospheric gravity
waves, and three-dimensional turbulence on small scales. The goal of
the
Committee on Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics is to foster
research
on the fundamental dynamics of such geophysical flows, including wave
generation
and propagation, interaction between waves and turbulence, and the
maintenance
of the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans. The breadth of
this goal requires collaboration with other committees of the Society
that
focus on parts of the atmosphere or on particular scales of motion.
The Committee on Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics
serves the Society primarily by
- remaining abreast of developments in geophysical
fluid dynamics as they affect this and other areas of meteorological
activity;
- fostering communication among researchers from both
atmospheric and oceanographic disciplines; and
- furthering information exchange among researchers
involved in wave, turbulence and general circulation studies and other
elements of the atmospheric science community.
The committee is particularly concerned with encouraging
communication between specialists in subdisciplines of dynamical
meteorology
and oceanography. Examples of research areas where such communication
is
essential include large-scale atmospheric interactions between the
Tropics
and the midlatitudes, and between the troposphere and stratosphere; and
the interaction between the mesoscale circulations and the larger-scale
flow. The committee also tries to encourage the interplay between new
theoretical
ideas, observational studies, and field programs.
The committee works toward these goals by sponsoring
conferences, symposia, and workshops, often in cooperation with other
committees
of the Society, and other organizations, and supporting the publication
of papers and surveys in the Society's journals. As the need arises, it
also advises the Society with regard to the coordination and planning
of
research programs in this area.
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