Raymond looked at how convectively coupled Kelvin waves can be better
represented in Global Climate Models (GCMs). His mentors were Professor Eric
Maloney, post-doctoral researcher Jim Benedict and graduate student Walter
Hannah. Raymond is a senior at North Carolina State University where he is
studying Meteorology and Environmental Sciences.
Convectively coupled Kelvin waves are major weather producers in the tropics,
however, they are not well represented in current GCMs. In order to improve
Kelvin wave simulations, modifications can be made in the way the convection is
treated in GCMs. A key feature of convection parameterization is the process of
entrainment, which is the integration of dry, non-turbulent flow into a
turbulent (and moist) cloud. Entrainment can limit cloud growth. In this
study, Raymond investigated the consequences of enhancing the entrainment rate
in the lower troposphere of a GCM.
Among his results, Ray found that the modified entrainment relationship improved
Kelvin wave signal in the model representation overall. His full method and
results may be found in his research poster,
Analysis of Convectively Coupled Equatorial Kelvin Waves in a GCM with a
Modified Entrainment Profile.
Raymond's other research interests include El Nino and La Nina anomalies, cloud
formation, tornado formation and winter coastal cyclogenesis. He is also
interested in the consequences of climate change and human adaptation to it
along with climate change policy.
Ray calls Maniti, Puerto Rico home. He enjoys listening to music and loves
watching both college basketball football. He has a passion for traveling, and
was quite excited to come to Colorado for the summer.
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