TT8: SOP Monsoon

TT-leaders: Doug Parker, Cyrille Flamant

Detailed information: TT8 document: SOP Monsoon (latest update:19.05.2006, pdf, 2.7 MB), Appendices to TT8 document (latest update: 19.05.2006, pdf, 0.3 MB)

Scientific justification and objectives

Key questions to be addressed by AMMA are listed in the International Science Plan.

A number of SOP-Monsoon objectives are also defined by the funded and proposed parts of AMMA.

TT8 will organise these objectives into complementary activities, and this is described in subsequent sections of the TT8-document. Appendix E lists the objectives and subprojects which are concerned with TT8.

Overall Observing strategy

Aircraft and ground-based measurements

In order to achieve the scientific objectives related to the onset and mature monsoon phases decribed in the AMMA ISP, a synergy of observations from up to five research aircraft (F/ATR-42, F/F-20, UK/BAe146, D/F20 and EEIG/Geophysica), various ground-based stations and space-borne instruments has been designed to be operational in June-September 2006.

The overall strategy for the SOP observations is a multidisciplinary, multi-instrument approach. Research aircraft will be used to gain high temporal and spatial resolution measurements while ground-based systems will provide continuity in time. The aircraft will also be used for a 'Lagrangian' approach (for instance following weather systems through more than one phase of their evolution), with the groundbased systems giving an Eulerian (fixed location) view.

There are two important modes of instrument operation:

1. Intensive observing periods (IOPs) of 1-4 days will be used to focus attention on specific events in the monsoon: notably the effects of convective rainfall events on the various environmental systems. Central to these IOPs will be the deployment of research aircraft. Prescribed IOP patterns are numbered I1, I2, …
2. Intensive monitoring will be conducted throughout the SOP period using ground-based instruments. The activity of some of the EOP monitoring systems (such as the radiosonde network) will be enhanced in this period. This enhancement of monitoring systems will also involve the deployment of SOP ground instrumentation.
   

Modelling and satellite observations

Model and satellite products will be used for planning of IOPs and aircraft operations (coordinated through the AMMA Operations Centre - AOC). Need for these products, according to IOP, is detailed in the forecasting requirements for SOPs. It should be noted that a number of products will be required for SOP planning, which are beyond the usual remit of operational weather prediction, as per example the dust and biomass burning plume trajectories.

Data assimilation with certain datasets from the SOP (radiosondes, dropsondes, driftsondes in particular) is a major priority.

Targetted observations using dropsondes, radiosondes and driftsondes could be supported.