Research

Introduction

My research activity is in the field of meteorology/climate variability and climate modelling, with an emphasis on the tropics, and the interactions between rainfall and volcanic activity.

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) is the dominant mode of tropical climate variability on time scales of a few weeks. Papers:

Matthews AJ, 2012: A multiscale framework for the origin and variability of the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, 1165-1178.	Abstract
Webber BGM, Stevens DP, Matthews AJ, Heywood KJ, 2012: Dynamical ocean forcing of the Madden-Julian Oscillation at lead times of up to five months. J. Climate, 25, 2824-2842.	Abstract
Webber BGM, Matthews AJ, Heywood KJ, Stevens DP, 2012: Ocean Rossby waves as a triggering mechanism for primary Madden-Julian events. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, 514-527.	Abstract
Webber BGM, Matthews AJ, Heywood KJ, 2010: A dynamical ocean feedback mechanism for the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 136, 740-754.	Abstract
Love BS, Matthews AJ, 2009: Real-time localised forecasting of the Madden-Julian Oscillation using neural network models. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 135, 1471-1483.	Abstract
Lavender SL, Matthews AJ, 2009: Response of the West African monsoon to the Madden-Julian Oscillation. J. Climate, 22, 4097-4116.	Abstract
Love BS, Matthews AJ, Janacek GJ, 2008: Real-time extraction of the Madden-Julian Oscillation using empirical mode decomposition and statistical forecasting with a VARMA model. J. Climate, 21, 5318-5335.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2008: Primary and successive events in the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 134, 439-453.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Singhruck P, Heywood KJ, 2007: Deep ocean impact of a Madden-Julian Oscillation observed by Argo floats. Science, 318, 1765-1769.	Abstract
Pohl B, Matthews AJ, 2007: Observed changes in the lifetime and amplitude of the Madden-Julian Oscillation associated with interannual ENSO sea surface temperature anomalies. J. Climate, 20, 2659-2674.	Abstract
Batstone CP, Matthews AJ, Stevens DP, 2005: Coupled ocean-atmosphere interactions between the Madden-Julian Oscillation and synoptic-scale variability over the warm pool. J. Climate, 18, 2004-2020.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Li HYY, 2005: Modulation of station rainfall over the western Pacific by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L14827, doi: 10.1029/2005GL023595.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Meredith MP, 2004: Variability of Antarctic circumpolar transport and the southern annular mode associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L24312, doi: 10.1029/2004GL021666.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Hoskins BJ, Masutani M, 2004: The global response to tropical heating in the Madden-Julian Oscillation during northern winter. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 130, 1991-2011.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2004: The atmospheric response to observed intraseasonal tropical sea surface temperature anomalies. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L14107, doi: 10.1029/2004GL020474.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2004: Intraseasonal variability over tropical Africa during northern summer. J. Climate, 17, 2427-2440.	Abstract
Hall JD, Matthews AJ, Karoly DJ, 2001: The modulation of tropical cyclone activity in the Australian region by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 2970-2982.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2000: Propagation mechanisms for the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 126, 2637-2652.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 1999: The tropical-extratropical interaction between high-frequency transients and the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 661-677.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Slingo JM, Hoskins BJ, Inness PM, 1999: Fast and slow Kelvin waves in the Madden-Julian Oscillation of a GCM. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 125, 1473-1498.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Lander J, 1999: Physical and numerical contributions to the structure of Kelvin wave-CISK modes in a spectral transform model. J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 4050-4058.	Abstract
Slingo JM, Sperber KR, Boyle JS, Ceron JP, Dix M, Dugas B, Ebisuzaki W, Fyfe J, Gregory D, Gueremy JF, Hack J, Harzallah A, Inness P, Kitoh A, Lau WKM, McAvaney B, Madden R, Matthews AJ, Palmer TN, Park CK, Randall D, Renno N, 1996: Intraseasonal oscillations in 15 atmospheric general circulation models: results from an AMIP diagnostic subproject. Climate Dyn., 12, 325-358.	Abstract

Many of the population of West Africa are dependent for their livelihoods on the rain that the West African monsoon brings. Papers:

Lavender SL, Taylor CM, Matthews AJ, 2010: Coupled land-atmosphere intraseasonal variability of the West African monsoon in a GCM. J. Climate, 23, 5557-5571.	Abstract
Lavender SL, Matthews AJ, 2009: Response of the West African monsoon to the Madden-Julian Oscillation. J. Climate, 22, 4097-4116.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2004: Intraseasonal variability over tropical Africa during northern summer. J. Climate, 17, 2427-2440.	Abstract

Volcanic activity (dome collapses and pyroclastic flows) on the active Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat can be triggered by heavy rainfall. Papers:

Hicks PD, Matthews AJ, Cooker MJ, 2010: Triggering of a volcanic dome collapse by rainwater infiltration. J. Geophys. Res., 115, B09212, doi: 10.1029/2009JB006831.	Abstract
Hicks PD, Matthews AJ, Cooker MJ, 2009: The thermal structure of a gas-permeable lava dome and time-scale separation in its response to perturbation. J. Geophys. Res., 114, B07201, doi: 10.1029/2008JB006198.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Barclay J, Johnstone JE, 2009: The fast response of volcano-seismic activity to intense precipitation: Triggering of primary volcanic activity by rainfall at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 184, 405-415.	Abstract
Barclay J, Johnstone JE, Matthews AJ, 2006: Meteorological monitoring of an active volcano: Implications for eruption prediction. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 150, 339-358.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Barclay J, 2004: A thermodynamical model for rainfall-triggered volcanic dome collapse. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L05614, doi: 10.1029/2003GL019310.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Barclay J, Carn S, Thompson G, Alexander J, Herd R, Williams C, 2002: Rainfall-induced volcanic activity on Montserrat. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 1644, doi: 10.1029/2002GL014863.	Abstract

The weather and climate vary on many different time and spatial scales, and there is significant interaction between these scales. Papers:

Matthews AJ, 2012: A multiscale framework for the origin and variability of the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, 1165-1178.	Abstract
Love BS, Matthews AJ, Lister GMS, 2011: The diurnal cycle of precipitation over the maritime continent in a high-resolution atmospheric model. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 137, 934-947.	Abstract
Meehl GA, Lukas R , Kiladis GN, Weickmann KM, Matthews AJ, Wheeler M, 2001: A conceptual framework for time and space scale interactions in the climate system. Climate Dyn., 17, 753-775.	Abstract
Hall JD, Matthews AJ, Karoly DJ, 2001: The modulation of tropical cyclone activity in the Australian region by the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 2970-2982.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 1999: Interactions between ENSO, transient circulation and tropical convection over the Pacific. J. Climate, 12, 3062-3086.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 1999: The tropical-extratropical interaction between high-frequency transients and the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 661-677.	Abstract

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) is a diagonal band of cloud and precipitation that extends southeasward into the Pacific Ocean from the maritime continent (Indonesian archipelago). Its is responsible for a significant proportion of the global precipitation and has remote effects on climate, but its origins and dynamics are not well understood. Papers:

Matthews AJ, 2012: A multiscale framework for the origin and variability of the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, 1165-1178.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Hoskins BJ, Slingo JM, Blackburn M, 1996: Development of convection along the SPCZ within a Madden-Julian Oscillation. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 122, 669-688.	Abstract

Weather systems can propagate from the tropical regions to the extratropics and vice versa, triggering and influencing other weather system remotely over large distances. Papers:

Dawson A, Matthews AJ, Stevens DP, Roberts MJ, Vidale PL, 2013: Importance of oceanic resolution and mean state on the extra-tropical response to El Nino in a matrix of coupled models. Climate Dyn., published online, doi: 10.1007/s00382-012-1518-6.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, 2012: A multiscale framework for the origin and variability of the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, 1165-1178.	Abstract
Dawson A, Matthews AJ, Stevens DP, 2011: Rossby wave dynamics of the North Pacific extra-tropical response to El Nino: Importance of the basic state in coupled GCMs. Climate Dyn., 37, 391-405.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 2000: A model of Rossby waves linked to submonthly convection over the eastern tropical Pacific. J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 3785-3798.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 1999: Interactions between ENSO, transient circulation and tropical convection over the Pacific. J. Climate, 12, 3062-3086.	Abstract
Matthews AJ, Kiladis GN, 1999: The tropical-extratropical interaction between high-frequency transients and the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 661-677.	Abstract

The tropical Atlantic is an important geographical component of the Earth's climate system. There are two-way teleconnections between the tropical Atlantic and the rest of the globe, with variability in the tropical Atlantic influencing other parts of the globe (e.g., the North Atlantic/Europe sector) and being influenced by, e.g., El Niño in the Pacific. Papers:

Handoh IC, Bigg GR, Matthews AJ, Stevens DP, 2006: Interannual variability of the tropical Atlantic independent of and associated with ENSO: Part II. The South Tropical Atlantic. Int. J. Climatol, 26, 1957-1976.	Abstract
Handoh IC, Matthews AJ, Bigg GR, Stevens DP, 2006: Interannual variability of the tropical Atlantic independent of and associated with ENSO: Part I. The North Tropical Atlantic. Int. J. Climatol, 26, 1937-1956.	Abstract

The atmosphere contains normal modes of variability, analagous to the modes of vibration of a guitar string. Papers:

Matthews AJ, Madden RA, 2000: Observed propagation and structure of the 33-h atmospheric Kelvin wave. J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 3488-3497.

Abstract

The laws of physics are the same now as they were millions or billions of years ago. Hence, climate conditions on the early Earth can be studied using climate models that have been developed for the study of current Earth conditions, but by setting the model parameters to values suitable for the early Earth. Papers:

Goldblatt C, Claire MW, Lenton TM, Matthews AJ, Watson AJ, Zahnle KJ, 2009: Nitrogen enhanced greenhouse warming on the early Earth. Nature Geoscience, 2, 891-896.

Abstract