Modeling, Analysis, Predictions and Projections (MAPP)

With precipitation in the midlatitudes predominantly produced in extratropical cyclones, research efforts have strived to find new ways of evaluating and analyzing model precipitation errors. However, due to the sheer number of processes involved in the production of precipitation, it is a difficult parameter to model.

Over the last several decades, climate models have significantly improved due to enhancements in technology and data. However, producing reliable climate forecasts remains a challenge due to the climate models’ inability to include local and mesoscale land and atmospheric processes. 

Causing unusually warm waters off the coast of Central and South America, an El Niño event refers to a large scale ocean and atmospheric interaction that results in the warming of sea surface temperatures across the Equatorial Pacific.