Synoptic and Dynamic Meteorology
Office: Burnside Hall 715
Tel.: (514) 398-6076
Fax.: (514) 398-6115
john [dot] gyakum [at] mcgill [dot] ca (E-mail)
Research Group Photos:
Research interests
Extratropical transformations and extratropical cyclones
Current research focuses on the dynamical processes associated with tropical cyclones that ultimately affect the Atlantic Canada provinces (Milrad et al 2009a). These cases typically transform from a warm core convectively driven disturbance into a cold core extratropical system. During this latter phase, however, these and other extratropical weather systems are often responsible for copious amounts of rainfall in the Atlantic provinces (Milrad et al 2009b). Work is in progress investigating the processes by which the cyclones transform from tropical to extratropical systems. Additional research is being conducted on the roles that surface fluxes of heat and moisture play in the evolution of these extratropical transformations.
Heavy precipitation events and water vapour transport to extratropical latitudes
We are studying the roles that especially strong poleward moisture transports (Roberge et al. 2009) play in the dynamics of precipitating high-latitude weather systems. One example of a tropical moisture source playing an important role in precipitation is that of the recent Ice Storm that devastated portions of the eastern Canadian Provinces and the northeastern United States. We are using high-resolution atmospheric models to study the evolution of precipitating systems within the Saint Lawrence River valley surrounding Montreal. Such precipitation events are often strongly influenced by the orographically-channeled flow (Carrera et al. 2009) in the region.
Some recent publications
Roberge, A., J. R. Gyakum, and E. Atallah, 2009: Analysis of intense poleward water vapor transports into high latitudes of western North America. Wea. Forecasting. In Press.
Carrera, M. L., J. R. Gyakum, and C. A. Lin, 2009: Observational study of wind channeling within the St. Lawrence River valley. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., In press.
Milrad, S. M., E. H. Atallah, and J. R. Gyakum, 2009b: Synoptic-scale characteristics and precursors of cool-season precipitation events at St. John’s, Newfoundland, 1979-2005. Wea. Forecasting, 24, 667-689.
Durnford, D., J. R. Gyakum, and E. Atallah, 2009: The conversion of total column ozone data to numerical weather prediction model initializing fields, with simulations of the 24-25 January 2000 east coast snowstorm. Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 161-188.
Milrad, S. M., E. H. Atallah, and J. R. Gyakum, 2009a: Dynamical and precipitation structures of poleward-moving tropical cyclones in eastern Canada, 1979-2005. Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 836-851.
Gyakum, J. R., 2008: The application of Fred Sanders’ teaching to current research on extreme cold-season precipitation events in the Saint Lawrence River Valley region. Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology and Weather Analysis and Forecasting: A Tribute to Fred Sanders, Meteor. Monogr., 33, No. 55, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 241-250.
Szeto, K. K., R. E. Stewart, M. K. Yau, and J. R. Gyakum, 2008: The Mackenzie climate system: A synthesis of MAGS atmospheric research, pages 23-50. Textbook, entitled 'Cold Region Atmospheric and Hydrologic Studies; The Mackenzie GEWEX Experience Volume 1: Atmospheric Dynamics’ (Ming-ko Woo Editor; Springer-Verlag); publishing date 2008. ISBN 978-3-540-73935-7. 470 pp.
Kochtubajda, B., M. D. Flannigan, J. R. Gyakum. R. E. Stewart, W. R. Burrows, A. Way, E. Richardson, and I. Sterling, 2008: The nature and impacts of thunderstorms in a northern climate. pages 383-402. Textbook, entitled 'Cold Region Atmospheric and Hydrologic Studies; The Mackenzie GEWEX Experience Volume 1: Atmospheric Dynamics’ (Ming-ko Woo Editor; Springer-Verlag); publishing date 2008. ISBN 978-3-540-73935-7. 470 pp.
Long, Z., W. Perrie, J. R. Gyakum, R. Laprise and D. Caya, 2007: Northern Lake Impacts on Local Seasonal Climate. J. Hydrometeor., 8, 881-896.
Szeto, K. K., R. E. Stewart, M. K. Yau, and J. R. Gyakum, 2007: Northern tales: A synthesis of MAGS atmospheric and hydrometeorological research. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88, 1411-1425.
McTaggart-Cowan, R., L. F. Bosart, J. R. Gyakum, and E. H. Atallah, 2007: "Hurricane Katrina (2005). Part I: Complex Lifecycle of an Intense Tropical Cyclone. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 3905–3926.
McTaggart-Cowan, R., L. F. Bosart, J. R. Gyakum, and E. H. Atallah, 2007: "Hurricane Katrina (2005). Part II: Evolution and Hemispheric Impacts of a Diabatically Generated Warm Pool. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 3927-3949.
Woo, M.-K., P.Modeste, L. Martz, J. Blondin, B. Kochtubajda, D. Tutcho, J. Gyakum, A. Takazo, C. Spence, J. Tutcho, P. DiCenzo, G. Kenny, J. Stone, I. Neyele, G. Baptiste, M. Modeste, B. Kenny, and W. Modeste, 2007: Science meets traditional knowledge: water and climate in the Sahtu (Great Bear Lake) region, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arctic, 60, 37-46.
Carrera, M. L., and J. R. Gyakum, 2007: Southeast Asian pressure surges and significant events of atmospheric mass loss from the Northern Hemisphere. J. Climate, 20, 4678-4701.
Long, Z., W. Perrie, J. Gyakum, R. Laprise, and D. Caya, 2007: Northern Lake Impacts on Local Seasonal Climate. J. Hydrometeor., in press.
Desgagne M., R. McTaggart-Cowan, W. Ohfuchi, G. Brunet, P. Yau, J. R. Gyakum, Y. Furukawa, and M. Valin, 2006: Large atmospheric computation on the earth simulator: The LACES project. Scientific Programming, 14, 13 - 25.
Danielson, R. E., J. R. Gyakum, and D. N. Straub, 2006: A case study of downstream baroclinic development over the North Pacific Ocean. Part II: Diagnosis of eddy energy and wave activity. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 1549 1567.
Danielson, R. E., J. R. Gyakum, and D. N. Straub, 2006: A case study of downstream baroclinic development over the North Pacific Ocean. Part I: Dynamical Sensitivity. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 1534 1548.
Kochtubajda, B., M. D. Flannigan, J. R. Gyakum, R. E. Stewart, K. A. Logan, and T. V. Nguyen, 2006: Lightning and fires in the Northwest Territories and responses to future climate change. Arctic, 59, 211-221.
McTaggart Cowan, R., L. F. Bosart, C. A. Davis, E. H. Atallah, J. R. Gyakum, and K. A. Emanuel, 2006: Analysis of Hurricane Caterina (2004). Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 3029-3053.
McTaggart Cowan, R., E. Atallah, J. R. Gyakum, and L. F. Bosart, 2006: Hurricane Juan (2003). Part II: Forecasting and numerical simulation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 1748-1771.
McTaggart Cowan, R., E. Atallah, J. R. Gyakum, and L. F. Bosart, 2006: Hurricane Juan (2003). Part I: A diagnostic lifecycle study. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 1725-1747.
Fogarty, C. T., and J. R. Gyakum, 2005: A Study of Extratropical Transition in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, 1963 1996. Atmos. Ocean, 43, 173 191.
Perrie, W., E. L. Andreas, W. Zhang, W. Li, J. R. Gyakum, and R. McTaggart Cowan, 2005: Sea spray impacts on intensifying midlatitude cyclones. J. Atmos. Sci., 62, 1867 1883.
Sisson, P. A., and J. R. Gyakum, 2004: Synoptic and planetary scale precursors to significant cold season precipitation events in Burlington, Vermont. Wea. Forecasting, 19, 841 854.
McTaggart Cowan, R., J. R. Gyakum, and M. K. Yau, 2004: The impact of tropical remnants on extratropical cyclogenesis: Case study of Hurricanes Danielle and Earl (1998). Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 1933 1951.
McTaggart Cowan, R., J. R. Gyakum, and M. K. Yau, 2004: Reply. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 2514 2519.
Ren, X., W. Perrie, X. Long, and J. R. Gyakum, 2004: Atmosphere ocean coupled dynamics of cyclones in the midlatitudes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 2432 2451.
Danielson, R. E., J. R. Gyakum, and D. Straub, 2004: Downstream baroclinic development among forty-one cold-season eastern North Pacific cyclones. Atmos.-Ocean, 42, 235-250.