University of Missouri research connects severe weather with the tropics

Dr. Anthony Lupo and Joseph Renken lead the way along with Caleb Brown, Grace Kennedy, Jacques Mainguy, Nicholas Wergelas into research connecting severe weather outbreaks in the United States and the Pacific tropics. This research ties information produced out of the Southern Oscillation Index to the upper level jetstream. The Southern Oscillation collects data depicting surface pressures from Darwin Australia and a Pacific Ocean island (Tahiti) and maps out the data. This information was then used transferred over into the upper jetstream.

Patterns in the upper-level jetsream are typically examined to help with all sorts of weather forecasting. In this case, these patterns would transfer over to severe weather producers in the United States. The advantage of these correlations will help in predicting severe weather outbreaks in sub-seasonal outlooks (16-20 days away).

This advanced notice on severe weather conditions will help to allow meteorologist identify and warn the public further ahead in time potentially saving more lives with more attention drawn to incoming systems. This research helps to advance the field of longer range forecasting and severe weather forecasting.