The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $186,929 Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) federal grant program to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Office of Research Administration. The grant supports a 3-year collaborative research project investigating the nonlinear dynamics governing the formation of organized cloud patterns, particularly marine stratocumulus and continental shallow cumulus clouds. Key objectives include developing novel partial differential equation models called "pseudoparabolic Ginzburg-Landau equations" that can accurately simulate cloud organization, integrating stochastic parameterizations to account for turbulence and other microphysical effects, and creating high-resolution data-driven models trained on satellite datasets. The research aims to improve predictions of how these prevalent cloud systems respond to anthropogenic forcing and potential climate tipping points. The project offers opportunities for student involvement and has broad interdisciplinary applications in nonlinear sciences and atmospheric studies.
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