Dr. Yanai’s Contributions to the Discovery and Science of the MJO

Abstract

his chapter reviews Professor Michio Yanai?s contributions to the discovery and science of the Madden?Julian oscillation (MJO). Professor Yanai?s work on equatorial waves played an inspirational role in the MJO discovery by Roland Madden and Paul Julian. Professor Yanai also made direct and important contributions to MJO research. These research contributions include work on the vertically integrated moist static energy budget, cumulus momentum transport, eddy available potential energy and eddy kinetic energy budgets, and tropical?extratropical interactions. Finally, Professor Yanai left a legacy through his students, who continue to push the bounds of MJO research.