MAP

Mesoscale Alpine Program
Mesoscaliges Alpenprogramm


Completed


Type of Structure: program
Regional Scope: global
Parent Organisations: WWRP.WMO
Child Organisations:
Duration : 1995 to 2008 COMPLETED
Contact Address: no office contact defined


General information and objectives

The Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) is an international research initiative devoted to the study of atmospheric processes over mountainous terrain. It aims towards expanding our knowledge of weather and climate over complex topography, and thereby to improve current forecasting capabilities. Hydrological aspects are currently being integrated. The planned field experiment is focused on the European Alps.

The primary scientific objectives of the program are to :
  • To improve the understanding of orographically influenced precipitation events, including deep convection, frontal precipitation and flash flooding episodes.
  • To improve the numerical prediction of moist processes over and in the vicinity of complex topography.
  • To improve the understanding and forecasting of the life cycle of Foehn-related phenomena, including their three-dimensional structure and associated boundary layer processes.
  • To improve the understanding of three-dimensional gravity wave breaking and associated wave drag in order to improve the parameterization of gravity wave drag effects in numerical weather prediction and climate models.
  • To provide data sets for the validation and improvement of high-resolution numerical weather prediction in mountainous terrain.

    In addition, a supporting objective was formulated:
  • To establish a climatology of mesoscale weather systems in the Alpine region, and to facilitate the collection and exchange of so-called non-GTS data not operationally distributed through WMO channels.


    Last update: 5/5/22
    Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)

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