Meteorology of Tropical West Africa : The Forecasters’ Handbook

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"This book aims to synthesise the latest knowledge of West African meteorology with operational tools and methods for weather forecasting in the region. We hope that it will be valuable for the training of weather forecasters in West Africa, for weather forecasters around the world having an interest in tropical predictions, and for students of Meteorology. It is our intention that the material should appeal to students who have an interest both in tropical dynamics and operational forecasting, and the book is targeted at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. A basic meteorological knowledge is assumed. The book is particularly demanded by National Meteorological Services, whose general forecasting services are still in their early stages. For many years, focus has been on forecasting for aviation, but with climate change and its associated hazards and impacts, there is increasing demand for specific meteorological forecasts at a wider range of time and space scales"--Provided by publisher. Read more... Abstract: "This book aims to synthesise the latest knowledge of West African meteorology with operational tools and methods for weather forecasting in the region. We hope that it will be valuable for the training of weather forecasters in West Africa, for weather forecasters around the world having an interest in tropical predictions, and for students of Meteorology. It is our intention that the material should appeal to students who have an interest both in tropical dynamics and operational forecasting, and the book is targeted at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. A basic meteorological knowledge is assumed. The book is particularly demanded by National Meteorological Services, whose general forecasting services are still in their early stages. For many years, focus has been on forecasting for aviation, but with climate change and its associated hazards and impacts, there is increasing demand for specific meteorological forecasts at a wider range of time and space scales"--Provided by publisher Content: Title Page Copyright Page Contents Contributors Preface Acknowledgements Acronyms Chapter 1 Mean Climate and Seasonal Cycle 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Rainfall and Evaporation Climatologies 1.3 Water Vapour and Clouds 1.4 Radiation, Dust, Sunshine Duration, Vegetation and Soil Water 1.5 Pressure, Temperature, Humidity and Wind at the Surface 1.6 Upper Air Wind, Mass and Humidity Fields 1.6.1 An Eulerian Perspective on the Wind, Circulation and Dynamics 1.6.2 A Lagrangian Perspective on the Circulation 1.7 Summary Schematics of the January and July West African Monsoon System AcknowledgementsAppendix: Acronyms Notes References Chapter 2 Synoptic Systems 2.1 Scientific Background 2.1.1 Introduction 2.1.2 Continental-scale Synoptic Features 2.1.2.1 Saharan Heat Low 2.1.2.2 The Intertropical Discontinuity or Intertropical Front 2.1.2.3 African Easterly Jet 2.1.3 African Easterly Waves 2.1.3.1 Background 2.1.3.2 Observed Synoptic Structure of African Easterly Waves, Analyses and Statistical Composites 2.1.3.3 African Easterly Wave Structure 2.1.3.4 African Easterly Wave Genesis 2.1.3.5 African Easterly Wave Dynamics and Evolution 2.1.3.6 Relationship with Deep Convection2.1.3.7 Downstream Transformation 2.1.4 Mid-latitude Troughs and Upper-level Troughs 2.1.5 Extratropical Dry Air Intrusions 2.1.6 Guinea Coast Systems 2.1.6.1 Guinea Coast Cloud and Rainfall 2.1.6.2 The Little Dry Season 2.1.7 Synoptic-scale Land-surface Feedbacks 2.2 Operational Methods and Canonical Synoptic Patterns 2.2.1 Synoptic Fields and Main Inferences 2.2.2 African Easterly Wave Case Studies and Canonical Structures 2.2.2.1 An Archetypal African Easterly Wave Event: Case Study CS024, 12-16 August 2012 2.2.2.2 African Easterly Wave Breaking Events2.2.2.3 Coastal Development of African Easterly Waves 2.2.3 Dry-season Thunderstorms in West Africa Acknowledgements Appendix: Acronyms Notes References Chapter 3 Deep Convection 3.1 Scientific Background 3.1.1 Introduction 3.1.1.1 Is Convection Different over Africa? 3.1.1.2 Interaction between convection and the larger scale flow 3.1.1.3 Aims of this chapter 3.1.2 Processes and Factors Governing Convection 3.1.2.1 Convective updraughts 3.1.2.2 Downdraughts, Downdraught Available Convective Potential Energy and Density Currents 3.1.2.3 Wind Shear3.1.2.4 Discussion 3.1.3 Organisation of Deep Convection 3.1.3.1 Different Types of Organisation 3.1.3.2 The Squall-line Conceptual Model 3.1.3.3 Climatology and Classification of Mesoscale Convective Systems 3.1.4 Life Cycle and Diurnal Cycle 3.1.4.1 Triggering 3.1.4.2 The Diurnal Cycle 3.1.4.3 Dissipation 3.2 Operational Methods 3.2.1 Life Cycle of Convection on 12-16 August 2012 (CS02) 3.2.1.1 MCS1 3.2.1.2 MCS2 3.2.1.3 MCS3 3.2.1.4 CS1 3.2.1.5 CS2 3.2.1.6 Suppressed Convection 3.2.2 A Cold Pool Case Study, 27 September 2014 (CS14)