Peter J. Webster

Last updated

Peter J. Webster
Peter-Webster-Summer-2016-Georgia-Tech-Alumni-Magazine-(Web).jpg
Born
Stockport, Lancashire UK, 1942 (age 74)
NationalityBritish-American
Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known forLow latitude dynamics of atmospheres and oceans. Hydrometeorology and predictions of extreme weather events for Asia.
Awards Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water: Creative Award
International Award: American Geophysical Union
116th Sir Edmund Halley Lecturer, Oxford University
Carl-Gustav Rossby Research Medal: American Meteorological Society
Mason Gold Medal: Royal Meteorological Society
Adrian Gill Prize: Royal Meteorological Society
Jule G. Charney Research Award: American Meteorological Society
Scientific career
FieldsTropical climate dynamics, hydrology
Doctoral advisor Norman A. Phillips
Website webster.eas.gatech.edu

Peter John Webster is a meteorologist and climate dynamicist relating to the dynamics of large-scale coupled ocean-atmosphere systems of the tropics, notably the Asian monsoon. Webster holds degrees in applied physics, mathematics and meteorology. Webster studies the basic dynamics of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system in the tropics and has applied this basic knowledge to developing warning systems for extreme weather events in Asia. He has served on a number of prestigious national and international committees including the World Climate Research Program's Joint Scientific Committee (1983-1987), chaired the international Tropical Ocean Global Atmospheric (TOGA) organizing committee (1988–94) and was co-organizer of the multinational TOGA Couple Ocean-Atmosphere (1993). He is Emeritus Professor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology and co-founder and Chief Scientist of Climate Forecast Applications Network LLC, a weather and climate services company.

Contents

Education

Webster attended Melbourne High School, in Melbourne, Australia, graduating in 1960. He received a BSc in Applied Physics and Mathematics from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1967. After working as a forecaster with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Webster attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was awarded his doctoral degree in 1972.

Academic career

After graduating from MIT, he returned to Australia as where he was a research scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). Webster then joined the faculty of the Department of Meteorology at The Pennsylvania State University. In 1992, he moved to University of Colorado as the inaugural Director of the Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (PAOS). In 2002, he joined the faculty of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Over his academic career, Webster has mentored and graduated 31 Ph.D. students and mentored 14 post-doctoral scholars.

Webster has authored over 200 papers and three books. [1] Research topics range from the low-frequency variability of the climate systems to the prediction of weather hazards in South Asia.

Webster and colleagues have shown the importance of interactions with the ocean in understanding the South Asian monsoon, whereby these interactions regulate the intensity of the monsoon. Anomalously strong monsoon states can lead La Nina and El Nino events. Recent research suggests that monsoon rainfall has actually increased in the last three decades, contrary to the expectation from global climate models. [2]

Webster identified a new oscillation between the eastern and western Indian Ocean that changes polarity quasi-biennially. The Indian Ocean Dipole has emerged as an integral part of variations of the intensity of the South Asian Monsoon.

Webster's most controversial research relates to the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones with increasing sea surface temperature. Analysis of tropical cyclone data in the satellite era indicated that tropical storms had become more intense, although not more frequent, since 1972 as global SSTs have risen globally. This paper, has proven controversial with a vocal support and opposition from the different sides of the global warming debate [3] Recent studies using contemporary data have tended to support the earlier conclusions.

Climate Forecast Applications Network

Peter Webster is co-founder and Chief Scientist of Climate Forecast Applications Network, LLC (CFAN). [4] CFAN develops weather and climate forecast tools to help clients manage weather and climate risks. CFAN was founded in 2006 by Judith Curry and Peter Webster and launched under Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute VentureLab program.

The project that launched CFAN was Climate Forecast Applications in Bangladesh (CFAB). [5] In 1998, 60% Bangladesh was inundated for over three months as the Brahmaputra River and Ganges flooded simultaneously, with devastating impacts. USAID asked Webster if it was possible to forecast the arrival of floods with sufficient lead-time to allow remedial actions to be taken. Prior to this time, floods would arrive unheralded often with devastation and loss. A 1-10 day hydrological forecast model was developed in 2000, which became operational in 2003. The prediction scheme continues to be used in Bangladesh through the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) based in Bangkok, Thailand. Following three years of summer floods in Pakistan, a more advanced scheme was developed for the Indus Valley but has not been used by Pakistan authorities. [6] Webster has continued to call for improved weather forecasts for South Asia, particularly in context of Cyclone Nargis that struck Myanmar [7] and the storm surge from Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Major recognition and awards

Awards

2018: Bjerknes Lecture, American Geophysical Union: “A new paradigm for Tropical-Extratropical Interaction”

2016: Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water: Creativity Prize. United Nations Headquarters, November [8] "For the development of extended range flood forecast systems that allow citizens and government authorities of developing nations to assess risk and take necessary mitigative actions, and for envisioning a plan that will allow nations to increase resilience to longer-term environmental hydrological problems associated with global climate change"

2015: International Award: American Geophysical Union [9]

2015: 116th Sir Edmund Halley Lecturer, Oxford University “Understanding the Monsoon"

2014: Haurwitz Lecture, American Meteorological Society: “Towards a general theory of the monsoon”

2012: Mason Gold Medal: Royal Meteorological Society

2004: Carl-Gustav Rossby Research Medal: American Meteorological Society

2003: Adrian Gill Prize: Royal Meteorological Society

1990: Jule G. Charney Research Award: American Meteorological Society “Interactions between climate and tropical cyclones”

Fellowships

Honorary Fellow Royal Meteorological Society: May 2017

Honorary Fellow Chinese-American Oceanic and Atmospheric Association: 2014

American Association for the Advancement of Science: 2005

American Geophysical Union: 2000

American Meteorological Society: 1984

Royal Meteorological Society: 1984

Publications

Thermodynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans. International Geophysics Series, Academic press, Volume 65, 471 pp. 471.: Curry, J. A. and P. J. Webster, 1998

Sustainability and Poverty Alleviation: Confronting Environmental Threats in Sindh: Ernesto, Sánchez-Triana, Santiago Enriquez, Bjorn Larsen, Peter Webster, and Javaid Afzal, 2015 (June), 264pp

Large scale Dynamics of the Tropical Atmosphere and Oceans.: 2018: Wiley (April 2020), 501pp.

Related Research Articles

The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal is the highest award for atmospheric science of the American Meteorological Society. It is presented to individual scientists, who receive a medal. Named in honor of meteorology and oceanography pioneer Carl-Gustaf Rossby, who was also its second (1953) recipient.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-pressure area</span> Area with air pressures lower than adjacent areas

In meteorology, a low-pressure area, low area or low is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with inclement weather, while high-pressure areas are associated with lighter winds and clear skies. Winds circle anti-clockwise around lows in the northern hemisphere, and clockwise in the southern hemisphere, due to opposing Coriolis forces. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence that occur in the upper levels of the atmosphere (aloft). The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as cyclogenesis. In meteorology, atmospheric divergence aloft occurs in two kinds of places:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Numerical weather prediction</span> Weather prediction using mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) uses mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans to predict the weather based on current weather conditions. Though first attempted in the 1920s, it was not until the advent of computer simulation in the 1950s that numerical weather predictions produced realistic results. A number of global and regional forecast models are run in different countries worldwide, using current weather observations relayed from radiosondes, weather satellites and other observing systems as inputs.

This is a list of meteorology topics. The terms relate to meteorology, the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory</span> U.S. Government research laboratory

The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), a federal research laboratory, is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), located in Miami in the United States. AOML's research spans tropical cyclone and hurricanes, coastal ecosystems, oceans and human health, climate studies, global carbon systems, and ocean observations. It is one of seven NOAA Research Laboratories (RLs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical cyclone forecast model</span> Computer program that uses meteorological data to forecast tropical cyclones

A tropical cyclone forecast model is a computer program that uses meteorological data to forecast aspects of the future state of tropical cyclones. There are three types of models: statistical, dynamical, or combined statistical-dynamic. Dynamical models utilize powerful supercomputers with sophisticated mathematical modeling software and meteorological data to calculate future weather conditions. Statistical models forecast the evolution of a tropical cyclone in a simpler manner, by extrapolating from historical datasets, and thus can be run quickly on platforms such as personal computers. Statistical-dynamical models use aspects of both types of forecasting. Four primary types of forecasts exist for tropical cyclones: track, intensity, storm surge, and rainfall. Dynamical models were not developed until the 1970s and the 1980s, with earlier efforts focused on the storm surge problem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Smagorinsky</span> American meteorologist

Joseph Smagorinsky was an American meteorologist and the first director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric model</span> Mathematical model of atmospheric motions

In atmospheric science, an atmospheric model is a mathematical model constructed around the full set of primitive, dynamical equations which govern atmospheric motions. It can supplement these equations with parameterizations for turbulent diffusion, radiation, moist processes, heat exchange, soil, vegetation, surface water, the kinematic effects of terrain, and convection. Most atmospheric models are numerical, i.e. they discretize equations of motion. They can predict microscale phenomena such as tornadoes and boundary layer eddies, sub-microscale turbulent flow over buildings, as well as synoptic and global flows. The horizontal domain of a model is either global, covering the entire Earth, or regional (limited-area), covering only part of the Earth. The different types of models run are thermotropic, barotropic, hydrostatic, and nonhydrostatic. Some of the model types make assumptions about the atmosphere which lengthens the time steps used and increases computational speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Landsea</span> American meteorologist

Christopher William "Chris" Landsea is an American meteorologist, formerly a research meteorologist with the Hurricane Research Division of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory at NOAA, and now the Science and Operations Officer at the National Hurricane Center. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical cyclogenesis</span> Development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere

Tropical cyclogenesis is the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which temperate cyclogenesis occurs. Tropical cyclogenesis involves the development of a warm-core cyclone, due to significant convection in a favorable atmospheric environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical cyclone</span> Type of rapidly rotating storm system

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is called a hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, or simply cyclone. A hurricane is a strong tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or northeastern Pacific Ocean. A typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. In the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, comparable storms are referred to as "tropical cyclones". In modern times, on average around 80 to 90 named tropical cyclones form each year around the world, over half of which develop hurricane-force winds of 65 kn or more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of meteorology</span> Overview of and topical guide to meteorology

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the field of Meteorology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagadish Shukla</span> Indian meteorologist

Jagadish Shukla is an Indian meteorologist and Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold-core low</span> Cyclone with an associated cold pool of air at high altitude

A cold-core low, also known as an upper level low or cold-core cyclone, is a cyclone aloft which has an associated cold pool of air residing at high altitude within the Earth's troposphere, without a frontal structure. It is a low pressure system that strengthens with height in accordance with the thermal wind relationship. If a weak surface circulation forms in response to such a feature at subtropical latitudes of the eastern north Pacific or north Indian oceans, it is called a subtropical cyclone. Cloud cover and rainfall mainly occurs with these systems during the day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Asia</span>

The climate of Asia is dry across its southwestern region. Some of the largest daily temperature ranges on Earth occur in the western part of Asia. The monsoon circulation dominates across the southern and eastern regions, due to the Himalayas forcing the formation of a thermal low which draws in moisture during the summer. The southwestern region of the continent experiences low relief as a result of the subtropical high pressure belt; they are hot in summer, warm to cool in winter, and may snow at higher altitudes. Siberia is one of the coldest places in the Northern Hemisphere, and can act as a source of arctic air mass for North America. The most active place on Earth for tropical cyclone activity lies northeast of the Philippines and south of Japan, and the phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation modulates where in Asia landfall is more likely to occur. Many parts of Asia are being impacted by climate change.

The Jule G. Charney Award is the American Meteorological Society's award granted to "individuals in recognition of highly significant research or development achievement in the atmospheric or hydrologic sciences". The prize was originally known as the Second Half Century Award, and first awarded to mark to fiftieth anniversary of the society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uma Charan Mohanty</span> Indian meteorologist

Uma Charan Mohanty is an Indian meteorologist and an emeritus professor at the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar. He is the president of Odisha Bigyan Academy and is known for his researches on the Indian summer monsoon. Besides being an elected fellow of the Indian Geophysical Union, he is also an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies viz. Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhupendra Nath Goswami</span> Indian meteorologist (born 1950)

Bhupendra Nath Goswami is an Indian meteorologist, climatologist, a former director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). and a Pisharoty Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. He is known for his researches on the Indian monsoon dynamics and is an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies viz. Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India as well as The World Academy of Sciences. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Houze</span>

Robert A. Houze, Jr., is an American atmospheric scientist, researcher, author, and Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington where he led a research team known as the Mesoscale Group for 46 years. He and his group participated in international field projects around the world and global satellite programs employing weather radar and aircraft in the tropics and midlatitudes, in projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, DOE, and NOAA. Houze has been on the science teams for three NASA satellites for the global study of clouds and precipitation. The predominant areas of his research are tropical convective clouds, extreme storms, flooding in the Asian Monsoon, tropical cyclones, and midlatitude frontal systems in mountainous regions.

Climate Forecast Applications Network (CFAN) is a company that develops weather and climate forecast tools and provides research and consulting services to manage weather and climate risks. CFAN was started in 2006 by Judith Curry and Peter Webster in Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute VentureLab program.

References

  1. "Peter J Webster". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  2. Revkin, Andrew C. (22 March 2013). "Global Study of Monsoons Finds Ocean Variations Have Driven Recent Shifts". Dot Earth Blog. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  3. "Humans 'causing stronger storms'". 11 September 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  4. "Climate Forecast Applications Network LLC - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  5. Webster, P et al. (2010) Extended-range probabilistic forecasts of Ganges and Brahmaputra floods in Bangladesh. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society http://webster.eas.gatech.edu/Papers/BAMS_Webster_etal_2010.pdf
  6. Husain, Khurram (23 March 2015). "What Pakistan can do to improve its flood management". Herald Magazine. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. Bangladesh's Example for a Post-Nargis World, by Andrew Freedman Washington Post, May 14, 2008
  8. Astor, Michael. "Saudis award water prize to 8 scientists". phys.org. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  9. "American Geophysical Union Announces 2015 Medals, Awards and Prizes Recipients". AGU Newsroom. Retrieved 11 March 2023.