Methods for Parameter Selection in Simple MJO Models

Simple, mechanistic models are useful for understanding complex phenomena. For example, one such phenomenon is the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), an intraseasonal weather pattern operating around the equator in the Indian Ocean. This is the cause of many other atmospheric and oceanic patterns around the world, to include monsoon season, El Niño movements, and ocean biogeochemistry. One mechanistic model is that of Stechmann & Hottovy 2017. This model relies on a space of parameters, whose true values are not inherently known. We aim to develop a systematic way of choosing these parameters. We use techniques such as brute force, gradient descent, and regression to choose parameters that best fit varying aspects of the tropical power spectrum.