Dakar 2005: Conference Themes

West African Monsoon and Global Climate

The 2-way interactions between the West African Monsoon (WAM) and the rest of the globe are important for determining the variability of the WAM and its global impacts on intraseasonal-to-decadal time-scales. Research areas under this theme include

Coordinators: A. Diedhiou, S. Janicot, P. Lamb

Water cycle

The efficiency of the processes controlling the advection of atmospheric moisture, its transformation into precipitation, and the behaviour of rain water over land (e.g. run-off, infiltration etc), is a crucial aspect of the WAM. The role of energy transport and exchanges in related to water vapour advection and latent heat release is also central for monsoon dynamics and its variability. Analysis of the water budget at regional-scale, mesoscale and local scale is promoted in this research theme.

Coordinators: A. Gaye, P. Houser, J.-L. Redelsperger

Land Surface-Atmosphere feedbacks

Recent studies with climate models have confirmed that the WAM is a hot-spot of surface-atmosphere interactions but the processes causing this strong interaction have not yet been identified. Presentations in this section will review our current knowledge and present new ideas on the mechanisms which could explain the strong surface-atmosphere feedbacks. The discussions should foster coordinated studies to explore and better understand the coupling at a regional and mesoscale.

Coordinators: C. Taylor, J. Polcher

Prediction of climate impacts

A major aim of AMMA is to develop the underpinning science that supports the practical use of climate information in improving health, water resources, food security/agriculture and other key climate-sensitive sectors in West Africa countries by, for example, helping to define the relevant climate/environment monitoring and prediction strategies. AMMA will ensure strong linkages between the work taking place on impacts and that taking place on observed variability and predictability of the WAM.

Coordinators: A. Amani, A. Morse, M. Thompson

High impact weather prediction and predictability

This joint AMMA-THORPEX research initiative is concerned with improving our knowledge and understanding of the predictability of high impact weather in different regions: (i) over the West African continent (e.g. intense rainfall events, onset and duration of dry/wet spells), (ii) the downstream tropical Atlantic (e.g. tropical cyclone genesis and intensity change) and (iii) the extratropics (e.g. extratropical transition events, large-scale tropical-extratropical interactions). In addition to addressing key science issues related to the nature and predictability of these high impact weather events, operational activities will be promoted including (i) Assessment of the impact of additional observations (especially radio-soundings over West Africa) in analysis/forecasting systems for the three regions; (ii) Development of targeted observing strategies and (iii) Tailoring of forecast products for users.

Coordinators: E. Afiesimama, S. Jones, F. Rabier, C. Thorncroft