Kinetic energy power spectra and fluxes in the Earth’s atmosphere

Montag 22.06.2026, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Berlin

Speaker: Salah Kouhen, Oxford University

Hybrid Colloquium 
Where?  The conference room 5-1.214 (Building 5) and 
Webex: https://geomar.webex.com/geomar-en/j.php?MTID=m6f187b689fccd196c05d249d28f6d0d8

 

Abstract:

The mesoscale atmospheric energy spectrum has puzzled scientists for decades, sitting between classical turbulence and wave theories. In this talk, I will trace the development of this field and introduce the coarse-graining perspective that my collaborators and I have applied to the problem. Through this new perspective, we have created the first consistent spatial maps of local mesoscale spectral slope and energy flux. We will also discuss the connection between the spectrum and predictability, as first discovered by Edward Lorenz, which led to the famous prediction that the weather will never be predictable more than two weeks in advance.