This session is open to contributions on all aspects of tropical meteorology such as: the intraseasonal variability and the MJO; Tropical cyclones; convectively coupled waves; diurnal variability.

Two topics are particularly encouraged in this session:
The first topic is on the MJO that influences many aspects of weather and climate and has a strong impact on tropical meteorology from synoptic (e.g. equatorial waves, tropical cyclones) to planetary (e.g. ENSO) scales. However, the representation of the MJO in general circulation models still poses significant problems, reflecting a continued lack of understanding of the physical processes at the origin of this phenomenon. This session thus solicits contributions on the MJO and its interaction with physical and dynamical processes on cloud to global scales. We particularly solicit contributions that use new modelling approaches and/or new observations toward furthering our understanding of the structure, mechanisms, and the predictability of the MJO. In particular, a coordinated field campaign — including CINDY2011, DYNAMO, AMIE, LASP, and HARIMAU — collected unprecedented observations allowing detailed analysis of the processes related to the MJO. Contributions on the 2011-2012 coordinated field campaign and on activities related to the YOTC program are particularly encouraged.

The second topic is on Tropical cyclones (TCs) that are an important component of the Earth’s climate. Many studies indeed describe the effects that climate variability and climate change may have on them. There is also evidence that TCs have a role in affecting the climate system through their interplay with the oceans and accounting for a significant percentage of the global rainfall during the TC season. However, a better understanding of the fundamental processes controlling connections and interactions between TCs and climate is needed. Contribution highlighting recent research from both sides of the interaction between TCs and the climate system are particularly encouraged. This includes the effects of mean climate changes on TCs development/characteristics/predictability as well as the role of TCs in modulating the mean climate. Results from the analysis of historical records and modelling studies of past, present and future climate are thus encouraged.

Contributions on the Global monsoon system should be submitted to the relevant session.