Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA)
The Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere program is a major
component of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) aimed
specifically at the prediction of climate phenomena on time
scales of months to years. The philosophy upon which TOGA is
based purposefully emphasizes the tropical oceans and their
relationship to the global atmosphere. Underlying TOGA is
the premise that the dynamic adjustment of the ocean in the
tropics is far more rapid than at higher latitudes. Thus
disturbances emanating from the western Pacific Ocean (such
as El
Nino) may propagate across the basin on time scales of
weeks compared to years for corresponding basin-wide
propagation at higher latitudes. The significance of shorter
dynamic times scales near the equator is that they are
similar to those of highly energetic atmospheric modes. This
similarity allows the formation of coupled modes between the
ocean and the atmosphere.
Scientific Objectives of TOGA
The specific goals
and scientific objectives of TOGA are (WCRP, 1985);
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To gain a description of the tropical oceans and the global
atmosphere as a time dependant system in order to determine
the extent to which the system is predictable on time scales
of months to years and to understand the mechanisms and
processes underlying its predictability.
-
To study the feasibility of modeling the couple ocean-atmosphere
system for the purpose of predicting its variation on time
scales of months to years; and
-
To provide the scientific background for designing an
observing and data transmission system for operational
predication, if this capability is demonstrated, by coupled
ocean-atmosphere models.
In order to achieve the TOGA goals, a strategy of large-scale,
long-term monitoring of the upper ocean and the atmosphere,
intensive and very specific process-oriented studies, and
modeling has been planned (WCRP, 1985) and enacted through a
series of national, multinational and international efforts
(e.g., NAS, 1986; WCRP, 1986). Modeling activities have been
coordinated by TOGA Numerical Experimentation Group (TOGA
NEG).
References:
National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 1986: U.S. Participation
in the TOGA Program, A research strategy, National Academy
Press, Washington, D.C., 72 pp.
World Climate Research Program (WCRP), 1985: Scientific Plan
for the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Programme, WCRP
publication #3, World Meteorological Organization (W.M.O.),
Geneva. 146 pp.
World Climate Research Program (WCRP), 1985: International
Implementation Plan for TOGA, ITPO Document #1, (first
edition), World Meteorological Organization W.M.O., Geneva.
World Climate Research Program (WCRP), 1986: International
Implementation Plan for TOGA, ITPO Document #2, (second
edition), World Meteorological Organization W.M.O., Geneva.
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