AFOSR WORKSHOP
Challenges of Multiscale Atmospheric Turbulence:
High Performance Computing, Physical Modeling and Observational Advances

Dates
December 14 – 16, 2006.

Location
Decision Theater (Orchid House), Rooms 175 and 188
Brickyard Complex, Arizona State University,
21 E 6th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281

Contact Information
Dr. Alex Mahalov, mahalov@asu.edu
Dr. Basil Nichols, byn@stokes.la.asu.edu

Mission Statement

The modeling and computational challenges of atmospheric turbulence lie in the broad spectrum, multiscale physics of such nonhomogeneous, anisotropic, often non-Kolmogorov, patchy shear-stratified and convective turbulence. The development of the next generation mesoscale numerical atmospheric turbulence prediction codes tightly interfaces with the mathematical modeling and high-resolution numerical algorithms for the microscale physics of such turbulence in the coupled troposphere-lower stratosphere. From thin patches of optical turbulence around the tropopause which impede optical communication systems to intense stratospheric clear air turbulence layers which impact the stability of High Altitude Platforms and Vehicles, this whole range of stiff phenomena benefits from high performance computing with the current generation of multi-core and parallel CPU architectures.

Several ongoing Air Force efforts such as the Airborne Laser and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) require predictive operational capabilities for the extended turbulent coupled troposphere/stratosphere. The workshop will present recent advances on parameterizations of nonhomegenous shear stratified turbulence and high resolution numerical simulations on the HPC platforms to impact on the development of the next generation mesoscale numerical atmospheric optical and clear air turbulence prediction codes. Such parameterizations and models for the prognosis of thin CAT (Clear Air Turbulence) and optical turbulence layers will benefit real-time Air Force operational models and ADA (Atmospheric Decision Aid) codes.

Topical Areas

Theoretical, numerical, physical modeling and observational advances in following research areas have been identified as major topics:

• CAT and Optical turbulence modeling and forecasting
  
  
• Analysis of data from recent AFOSR sponsored campaigns of measurements
  
  
• High performance computing of multiscale atmospheric flows on the next generation multi-core HPC systems
  
  
• WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) Code development for real-time coupled Tropospheric/Stratospheric Forecasting
  
  
• Mountain waves and Jet Stream induced stratospheric turbulence
  
  
• Characterization of stratospheric CAT and Optical Turbulence for Air Force Platforms (ABL, UAV, HAA)