Vermont Institute of Applied Meteorology (VIAM) Summer

Internship.

Patrick HoganNovember 10, 2011

The VIAM Summer Experience

• Lived off campus at my apartment.

• Paid internship through VIAM

• Worked in the weather center Mon-Fri

• Typical Hours (flexible): 9:00AM-4:00PM

• Went from late May – Mid August

• Main client: CitadelDarling Hill

Courtesy of Sally Hogan

Motivation

• Can the stratosphere impact the Arctic Oscillation (AO)?– If so, how does this impact weather in the

troposphere?• Can the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)

impact the AO?– Investigate OLR– Investigate SST’s

Stratospheric Work

• Precursor events leading up to a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW).

• Stratosphere- troposphere coupling– Down up, top down

process?

• Can a SSW event influence a negative AO?

Image taken from: http://newxsfc.blogspot.com/2009/02/sudden-stratospheric-warming-effect-on.html

Stratospheric Work• Provided with 20 –AO

transition dates from Citadel.• Explored Geopotential Heights

and anomalies at 10mb, 50mb, and 500mb level

• Explored U-wind anomalies (for zonal wind)

• Explored Surface Temps and anomalies

• Used cluster analysis of events to identify key features

Conclusions:Stratospheric Work

• Found a splitting of the Polar Vortex (PV) or a displacement of the PV for 19 events given.

• Found many events were top-down processes

• SSW’s can lead to a more -AO

3 Jan 1955: day -2 13 Nov 1955: day 0 24 Feb 1962: day -4 13 Dec 1962: day -8

27 Jan 1965: day -6 13 Dec 1966: day 148 Jan 1966: day -115 Nov 1965: day -6

22 Dec 1968: day -18 28 Jan 2005: day 159 Jan 1998: day 1521 Feb 1981: day -10

Cases with Displacement: Maximum Polar Vortex Displacement Day Shown

14 Feb 1957: day -15 24 Nov 1985: day 02 Jan 1985: day -7

6 Mar 1999: day -9 24 Feb 2001: day -9 9 Dec 2009: day 1

23 Nov 2010: day -1

Cases with Splitting of the Polar Vortex: Maximum Polar Vortex Split Day Shown

13 Jan 1956: day -10

Please Note: The 13 Jan 1956 case is not included in the SSW analysis- no apparent displacement or splitting of the polar vortex was evident. However, the maximum displacement is shown from the PV’s original position at this day.

Project Experience:What Did I Gain From this Internship?

• A better Understanding of the Stratosphere• A better understanding of stratospheric and

tropospheric coupling• Used Microsoft Excel frequently• Used PowerPoint to summarize results, and send

to client• Gained experience with conference calls and

dealing with client• Used GrADS to derive images with Dr. Jay Shafer

How to apply:• Become more efficient with:

– GrADS– Excel– PowerPoint– NOAA ERSL PSD page

• Need Resume and Cover Letter

• Interested in climate?• Interested in working in the

Private Sector?• Take more classes with Dr. Jay

Shafer– Like Dr. Jay’s Labs? Then you

may love this internship!

Darling HillCourtesy of Sally Hogan

What Am I doing Now?

• Still working for VIAM– Slow as of right now, might start work with

EarthRisk soon.• CITADEL work is done– Co-Presenting work at AMS National Conference

in January with Dr. Jay.• Working on the Vtrans team

Recommendations to get an Internship!

• Internships provide experience in the field.• Be persistent with your “potential” boss!• Be honest

• Show your “potential” boss that you really want it and love that particular area of study.

Questions?