The MCT Research Group at Purdue University is dedicated to understanding the dynamical and physical structure of marine convective boundary layers that form in cold air outbreaks over relatively warmer water, as well as deep convective systems over land that develop into supercell tornadic thunderstorms.

Research conducted within the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences focuses on both the theoretical and experimental investigation of convective systems that evolve in response to quasi-uniform heating from below and/or cooling from above within planetary boundary layers (PBL's). Theoretical studies start with classical Benard-Rayleigh Theory and extend to current Large Eddy Simulations (LES) models of turbulent convective PBL's. Field studies focus on wintertime cold air outbreaks over Lake Michigan, as well as the warm Gulf Stream and Kuroshio Ocean Currents. Statistical and climatological studies are also of interest, including favored regions of mesoscale cellular convection and geographical and seasonal variation in tornado activity.