Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean Simulations of the MJO during 2015

Simulations of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) during AMIE/DYNAMO are performed using the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) and the limited-domain Coupled Ocean / Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). NAVGEM and COAMPS simulations employ several air-sea coupling configurations and both explicit and parametrized convection in the case of COAMPS. Atmosphere-ocean fluxes are modulated by both synoptic-scale westerly wind bursts and mesoscale convective cold pools. COAMPS simulations with explicit and parameterized cumulus convection are used to assess the importance of convective organization to the air-sea fluxes within the MJO convective envelope. In addition, simulated cloud properties from the explicit COAMPS simulation are compared to both satellite- and ground-based radar observations. The ability of the simulations to capture convective processes over the Maritime Continent is another major focus of these simulations.