CLIVAR AFRICA Panel meeting Abidjan, 7-9 May 1998 
 
CONTINENTAL-SCALE CLIMATIC PROCESSES


 
What are the boundary layer processes in respect of:

- interaction with land surface moisture, dust creation, lakes
- initiation of convection

 What interactions occur between the African boundary layer and upper level circulation and convective disturbances, in respect of:

- development of deep organised and sustained convection
- dynamical instabilities and wave trains
- impact of convection and disturbances on large scale flow, eg. momentum balances
- consequences of change in large scale flow arriving in Africa

 

How does the intra-seasonal variability contribute to lower frequency fluctuations in respect of:

- basic state and seasonality in Africa
- external sources versus internally generated dynamics

  Is there sufficient knowledge of the annual cycle in respect of
- onset and evolution of rainy season
- water vapor sinks and sources
- role of heating over deserts
- synoptic interpretation from local knowledge

  What are the most significant tropical - extratropical interactions in respect of:

- interannual climate variability
- tropical convection influence on sub- and extra- tropics
- subtropical / midlatitude jets, interaction with tropical convection

  To what extent do interannual and decadal variability contribute to:

- climatic change generated by atmosphere-land interactions
- aerosol and vegetation changes and consequences for rain-producing weather and surface moisture availability

What dynamical teleconnections and processes affect daily convection anomalies and intraseasonal ‘bursts’?

Why are seasonal climate anomalies over Africa often incoherent in space/time, and what processes are systematic (eg. topography) vs random and chaotic?
 

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