24-28 August 2015, Grindelwald, Switzerland
By Laura Ciasto and Paul Hezel

Lunch break discussions under a not so terrible view (C. Li)

In week 35, a group of jetSTREAM scientists converged in Grindelwald, Switzerland for the SPARC Workshop on Storm Tracks (SPARC: Stratosphere-troposphere processes and their role in climate, a program of the WCRP (World Climate Research Program)). Co-organized by Camille Li, the workshop brought together a wide range of experts in the field of storm track and jet variability. The workshop goal was to shed light on questions such as “What controls the position, strength, and variability of a storm track?” The project team was well represented in this endeavour with presentations on how jets and storm tracks are influenced by internal atmospheric processes (Thomas Spengler, Clemens Spensberger, Justin Wettstein) as well as external forcing (Laura Ciasto, Paul Hezel, Joe LaCasce, Tim Woollings). See the Presentations page for details.

In addition to 70+ presentations, each day concluded with questions designed to stimulate discussion amongst the storm track experts. Rather than waiting for the awkward silence that often follows these questions, the organizers presented participants a unique opportunity to show off their artistic skills by designing a “simple” schematic that depicts the basic components of a storm track. The broadly-defined task highlighted the difficulty scientists face when trying to synthesize the research of an integral part of the climate system and then communicate it to a broader audience. We admit that it would have been slightly easier with coloured pencils.

Justin with new recruits (L. Ciasto)

Scientific discussions carried on outside the meeting hall when a presentation-free afternoon allowed participants to explore the surrounding mountains. Beneath a blue sky and a giant ball of fire that Bergen folks had trouble identifying, we were greeted, and sometimes stalked, by the local wildlife. We also learned there is a danger in hiking through the Swiss countryside in which you might find yourself being herded along with the cows, lulled by the “ting ting ting” of their bells. However, similar methods could prove useful for gathering scientists after coffee breaks.

A limerical summary of the week:

in schweiz mountains under skies blue
bergen scientists were among a few
who talked of storm tracks
and found out some facts
but now know less than we knew

Storm track elements diagramme (anonymous)