What can we learn from AMMA about physical processes and models?

Francoise Guichard (1)

1 CNRM - Centre national de recherches météorologiques

This study presents modelling issues in the simulation of the West African monsoon and discuss recent inferences from the international AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisplinary analysis) project. Firstly, major features of the West African monsoon are summarized. Secondly, results from mesoscale and large-scale models are presented and discussed. Thirdly, couplings between surface meteorology, climate and the radiative budget are highlighted in observations from the semi-arid Sahel and are linked to distinct processes. Challenges associated with the modelling of these couplings is illustrated with results from the ECMWF IFS. Finally, new perspectives are discussed regarding how AMMA data and findings can help improving understanding and modelling of physical processes.

Keywords: AMMA; african monsoon; model; parametrization; physics; processes

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Earth Sciences

Francoise Guichard. What can we learn from AMMA about physical processes and models?. Parametrization of Subgrid Physical Processes, Sep 2008, United Kingdom. pp.283,308. ⟨meteo-00369793⟩