Group members: Mary Vance, Chris Vyhnal, Chrystal Maggiore, Nancy Miller
Project Summary
In order to have confidence in global climate models which predict future warming of the atmosphere due to increases in carbon dioxide, the models should be able to accurately represent the current state of the atmosphere. Our mentor group worked with Dr. Joel Tenenbaum of SUNY Purchase to examine specifically the accuracy of current supercomputer analyses in determining the actual location and velocity of polar jet streams. We were able to obtain jet stream velocities from British Airways flight data recorders with the assistance of Dr. Tenenbaum. We then compared the flight recorder data with jet stream forecast maps to determine whether or not the supercomputer models accurately depict the position and velocity of the jet stream.
In this site, you will find the necessary flight recorder data, jet stream maps, and interpolation spreadsheet to conduct 4 jet stream case studies. (Data for additional case studies can be obtained from the climate links page included in this site.) Instructions on how to understand and work with the data and maps are provided on this site. We have not posted our results so that you can try the activity yourself and arrive at your own conclusions. If after completing the exercise you would like to compare your own results with ours, please e-mail anyone of us. If you decide to try the activity with your science students please e-mail us and let us know how we can help!!
(Joel teaches as the group looks on. Click to enlarge)