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Atmospheric Research Over the Western North Atlantic Ocean Region and North American East Coast: A Review of Past Work and Challenges Ahead
Author(s) -
Sorooshian Armin,
Corral Andrea F.,
Braun Rachel A.,
Cairns Brian,
Crosbie Ewan,
Ferrare Richard,
Hair Johnathan,
Kleb Mary M.,
Hossein Mardi Ali,
Maring Hal,
McComiskey Allison,
Moore Richard,
Painemal David,
Scarino Amy Jo,
Schlosser Joseph,
Shingler Taylor,
Shook Michael,
Wang Hailong,
Zeng Xubin,
Ziemba Luke,
Zuidema Paquita
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2019jd031626
Subject(s) - east coast , storm , geography , oceanography , climatology , environmental science , work (physics) , meteorology , geology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Decades of atmospheric research have focused on the Western North Atlantic Ocean (WNAO) region because of its unique location that offers accessibility for airborne and ship measurements, gradients in important atmospheric parameters, and a range of meteorological regimes leading to diverse conditions that are poorly understood. This work reviews these scientific investigations for the WNAO region, including the East Coast of North America and the island of Bermuda. Over 50 field campaigns and long‐term monitoring programs, in addition to 715 peer‐reviewed publications between 1946 and 2019, have provided a firm foundation of knowledge for these areas. Of particular importance in this region has been extensive work at the island of Bermuda that is host to important time series records of oceanic and atmospheric variables. Our review categorizes WNAO atmospheric research into eight major categories, with some studies fitting into multiple categories (relative %): aerosols (25%); gases (24%); development/validation of techniques, models, and retrievals (18%); meteorology and transport (9%); air‐sea interactions (8%); clouds/storms (8%); atmospheric deposition (7%); and aerosol‐cloud interactions (2%). Recommendations for future research are provided in the categories highlighted above.