Earth’s climate changes globally partly because of its inherent nature and partly because of anthropogenic effects. The middle atmosphere is an important component of the earth climate system that exhibits global cooling in response to the increase in greenhouse gases, and in which the ozone layer can be substantially destroyed leading to the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole. Recent developments in observational techniques and the extension of observational networks have enabled the capture of atmospheric phenomena concurrently over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. In addition, global numerical models, including coupled climate models and chemistry climate models, in which data assimilation techniques are implemented, are being extended to higher-altitude regions with greater horizontal and vertical resolutions. These developments allow the examination of atmospheric phenomena over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales in terms of their interactions and momentum/energy budgets. Such observations and models generate considerable amounts of data; thus, methods of data analysis are becoming increasingly important and “data-centric” science needs to be pursued. In parallel, new theories that can treat various phenomena seamlessly and three-dimensionally are needed, and those able to describe inductive elucidated structures are being constructed. These circumstances compel us to organize this symposium in order to review the latest research regarding the whole atmosphere, particularly focusing on the middle and upper atmosphere, and to discuss the direction of future endeavors.
Conveners
Kaoru Sato (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
Takuji Nakamura (National Institute of Polar Research, Japan)
Toru Sato (Kyoto University, Japan)
Masaki Satoh (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
M. Joan Alexander (NorthWest Research Associates, United States)
William E. Ward (University of New Brunswick, Canada)
Local Organizing Committee
Masaki Tsutsumi (National Insitute of Polar Research, Japan)
Akinori Saito (Kyoto University, Japan)
Koji Nishimura (National Insitute of Polar Research, Japan)
Yoshihiro Tomikawa (National Insitute of Polar Research, Japan)
Masashi Kohma (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
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