The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) develops and uses mathematical models and computer simulations to improve our understanding and prediction of the behavior of the atmosphere, the oceans, and climate.

Since 1955 GFDL has set the agenda for much of the world's research on the modeling of global climate change and has played a significant role in the World Meteorological Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, and the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. GFDL scientists focus on model-building relevant for society, such as hurricane research, prediction, and seasonal forecasting, and understanding global and regional climate change.

• August 23, 2010 GFDL Hosts Fulbright Scholar - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory recently hosted a Fulbright scholar from Greece. Nikolas “Nikos” Hatzianastasiou spent the summer looking at the simulated aerosol properties of the lab’s world-renowned atmospheric climate model, comparing them with actual measurement data for the Mediterranean. Under the leadership of GFDL Director Dr. V. Ramaswamy and senior scientist Paul Ginoux, Hatzianastasiou evaluated the AM2’s aerosol properties over the Mediterranean basin during his 10 weeks at GFDL—a new undertaking for the laboratory, and a departure from his previous work. “My earlier research focused on cloud, not climate models,” said Hatzianastasiou. “I had been interested in working with a climate model in general, and knew that GFDL had a renowned one.” Read more
• August 18, 2010 GFDL Study Examines the Fate and Consequences of Suspended and Dissolved Oil and Methane from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - A team of scientists from GFDL and NOAA's Office of Response and Recovery used a high-resolution global ocean climate model and take into account the microbial oxidation of oil to explore the probable extent of toxic concentrations of dissolved oil and of significant deep (1000-1300 m) oxygen depletion arising from the Deepwater Horizon spill. When the ocean circulation and microbial oxidation rates are taken into account, the interior ocean hypoxia or toxic concentrations of dissolved oil arising from the Deepwater Horizon blowout are likely to be locally significant but regionally confined to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Read more
• April 2, 2010 GFDL Scientist Appointed to Beijing Climate Center's International Scientific Advisory Committee - April 5-10 2010 - Dr. Ngar-Cheung (Gabriel) Lau will be visiting Beijing, China, as a guest of the Beijing Climate Center (BCC) of the China Meteorological Administration in his capacity as a recently-appointed member of the international Scientific Advisory Committee of BCC. This committee is charged with providing overall scientific guidance and oversight for various programs and international projects undertaken by BCC. Read more

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• September 15, 2010: Importing ozone precursors and aerosols to the North American free troposphere:
  Emily Fischer
  Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• September 16, 2010: Dynamical Downscaling of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis by the IPRC Regional Climate model
  Yuqing Wang (U of Hawaii)
  Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• September 29, 2010: TBA
  Angelique Melet Dieudonne
  Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• September 30, 2010: Michela Biasutti
  Michela Biasutti (LDEO)
  Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• October 6, 2010: Stratospheric ozone depletion: the main driver of 20th Century atmospheric circu
  Lorenzo polvani
  Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• October 7, 2010: The role of fire in climate-carbon cycle feedbacks
  Jim Randerson (U of Cal - Irvine)
  Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• October 14, 2010: TBA
  Richard Birdsey (Dept. of Agriculture -Forest Service)
  Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room
• October 21, 2010: Jonathon Gregory
  Jonathon Gregory (Met Office Hadley Center)
  Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
  Location: Smagorinsky Seminar Room

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