This is a past event.

Abstract:

Interactions and feedbacks between radiation, microphysical and dynamical processes (many of which are stochastic) spanning a wide range of scales make clouds and rain highly complex systems. Yet within this complexity, we seek for “islands of sanity”, regimes in the phase space for which competitions between processes and feedbacks yield consistent behavior that can be described by relatively simple means. 

 We will show that basic properties of shallow marine clouds and rain can be captured, using approaches similar to population dynamics. Exploring a set of equations that link clouds evolution, rain formation and aerosol effects reveal a rich solution space. We will discuss the theoretical insights gained from such an approach and their links to reality.

Bio:

Dr. Ilan Koren explores clouds and rain and their links to processes in the oceans. Completed his PhD in cloud physics at Tel Aviv University in 2002. Did a post-doctoral research at NASA Goddard, focusing on problems related to anthropogenic effects on clouds over oceans and rain forests. In 2006 he moved to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and has expanded his fields of interest to questions related to complex systems in general, self-organization, and emergent behavior in cloud fields. In parallel he explores links and feedbacks between marine ecology, air-sea exchange and clouds.