Dr. Ayrton Zadra

Research Scientist - Atmospheric dynamics; parameterization of subgrid-scale orographic drag

Current research and/or projects

Research in numerical weather prediction from the local to the global scale, and for time scales ranging from minutes to seasons

Research on the use of limited-area atmospheric models for medium range weather forecasting and regional climate applications
Research on the parameterization of physical processes related to momentum transfer between the earth's atmosphere and surface
Research on numerical modelling for Arctic weather and environmental prediction during the International Polar Year
Research on variational techniques (associated models, singular vectors, sensitivity analysis) applied to predictability studies, targeting and data assimilation

Professional activities / interests

Project leader of the Thorpex Arctic Weather and Environmental Prediction Initiative (TAWEPI)

Project leader of the development of the GEM-LAM model for regional climate applications

Supervisor of one post-doctoral fellow in singular vector studies; one post-doctoral fellow in the modelling of momentum transfer between the earth and the atmosphere; one Ph.D. student and one master student in regional climate modelling

Sessional lecturer at the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University

Education and awards

Ph.D. (2000), Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC

Ph.D. (1990), Physics, State University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

B.Sc. (1986), Physics, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Key publications

Zadra, A., D. Caya, J. Côté, B. Dugas, C. Jones, R. Laprise, K. Winger and L.-P. Caron. 2008. The next Canadian Regional Climate Model. Physics in Canada, Special Issue on Fast Computing. 64(2):(In press).

Mahidjiba, A, M. Buehner and A. Zadra. 2007. Excitation of Rossby-wave trains: optimal growth of forecast errors. Special issue of Meteorologische Zetschrift. 16:665-673.

Takle, E.S., J. Roads, B. Rockel, W.J. Gutowski, Jr., R.W. Arritt, I. Meinke, C.G. Jones and A. Zadra. 2007. Transferability intercomparison; An opportunity for new insight on the global water cycle and energy budget. Bulletin of the AMS. 88(3):, 375-384. Also Supplement, Bulletin of the AMS. 88(3):S1-S4.

Buehner, M. and A. Zadra. 2006. Impact of flow-dependent analysis error covariance norms on extra-tropical singular vectors. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 132:625-646.

Dugas, B., A. Zadra and K. Winger. 2005. Current state of GEM climate simulations at RPN, WGNE Blue Book. B11.

Zadra, A., M. Buehner, S. Laroche and J.-F. Mahfouf. 2004. Impact of the GEM model simplified physics on extra-tropical singular vectors. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 130:2541-2569.

Zadra, A., M. Roch, S. Laroche and M. Charron. 2003 The subgrid scale orographic blocking parametrization of the GEM model. Atmosphere-Ocean. 41(2):155-170.