Abstract:

    As concerns and debates grow over global climate change, scientists forge ahead toward grasping a better understanding of climate variability. In the atmosphere (an integral component of our climate system), research efforts are unraveling its fundamental global pattern that accounts for much of the changing wintertime meteorological conditions. As the "heart" of our atmosphere, this pattern beats in time but becomes arrhythmic in association with unusual atmospheric occurrences 30,000 feet above ground. To date, our limited knowledge of the atmosphere at these lofty heights and computational constraints make the diagnosis of this heart condition difficult and uncertain. With rapid development in technology that will allow us to better observe and simulate the atmosphere, this difficulty, which clouds our ability to assess future climate change, may be overcome by future generations..

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