Land-Atmosphere (L-A) interactions and feedbacks are complex, and require a quantitative, integrative, and process-level understanding that begins at the local level. The local L-A coupling (LoCo) perspective is one that enables such understanding via the connections of land surface and atmospheric (namely planetary boundary layer (PBL)) variables using a process-chain paradigm that outlines the connections from soil moisture to precipitation. To address this, the LoCo effort in GLASS is currently organized around a working group comprised of both panel and non-panel members.
Over the last 10-15 years, LoCo has led the development of a suite of L-A coupling diagnostics and applications to models across a range of scales. In addition, the working group is actively involved in developing and augmenting field campaigns to support L-A research and identify future observational needs.
The LoCo group has galvanized the young scientist community, and in turn has led to a productive scientific publication record and community leadership in L-A research. LoCo resources include metric summaries, a software toolkit, and a BAMS overview article to enable broader exposure/use of these techniques within the community, and to expand the application of LoCo metrics to the various modeling communities (research and operational).
Current Working Group Members:
Joseph Santanello (lead)
Alexis Berg
Paul Dirmeyer
Michael Ek
Craig Ferguson
Kirsten Findell
Trent Ford
Pierre Gentine
Tobias Gerken
Julian Giles
Lisa Jach
Benoit Guillod
Patricia Lawston
Benjamin Lintner
Joshua Roundy
Merja Tolle
Chiel van Heerwaarden
Ryann Wakefield
Ian N. Williams
Volker Wulfmeyer
Yunyan Zhang
