Title: Numerical Water Tracers: A technique for better understanding the atmospheric water and energy cycle.
Presenter: Jesse Nusbaumer
 
Have you ever sat around on a rainy day and wondered where all the water that is falling out of the sky actually came from? Did it evaporate from the ocean, the continent, or even a nearby lake or forest? What path did the water take on its travels to the cloud that is now precipitating above you? Maybe you are wondering why anyone would bother asking, or trying to answer, these sorts of questions in the first place? Do you like pizza? If the answer to any of these questions is something greater than a half- hearted shrug, then come attend this seminar on numerical water tracers! I’ll provide a general overview of the topic (and GISS’s unique place in its history), and some of the interesting scientific results that have been found using the technique, including new interpretations of proxy records, and a possibly refined explanation for increasing Atlantic ocean salinity. Then, I’ll present some of the current work I have been doing on atmospheric rivers in the NCAR and GISS climate models, and why it matters for both modern and past climates. Finally, I’ll discuss future plans, and some major outstanding questions related to the numerical water tracer technique. Also, did I mention that there will be pizza?