10. A Logo for MAP

Ingredients of the MAP-logo

1. the Alpine orography approximated to 25 km horizontal resolution;
2. a computational grid on the idealized plane around the Alps; and
3. schematic trajectories of air-parcels impinging onto the Alps from a northwesterly direction.

All these ingredients point to important issues of MAP. The model orography high lights the mesoscale size, extent and three-dimensionality of the Alps as a whole. The 'croissant-type' shape prevails throughout the lower two kilometres (blacked and dense contours), whereas the summits above 2000 m are more irregular.

Simulation and numerical experimentation will be an integral part of MAP besides the acquisition of truly mesoscale data sets through a field campaign. The sketched configuration of realistic Alps on an idealized plane is intermediate between operational numerical weather prediction models with to-date about 15 km horizontal resolution and even more idealized theoretical studies.

An obstacle as the Alps modifies the airflow in complicated ways. The possibilities of flow around the barrier at lower levels and of the excitation of waves in the stream over the barrier are exemplified. In general the Alps create or modify atmospheric vortices in a whole range of scales. Shear lines and vertical circulations are frequently generated which in turn can trigger severe storms and heavy precipitation. All these phenomena and their impact on weather forecasting and the climate of the Alpine region are within the scope of MAP.

Several sketches of a MAP-logo were presented to the participants of the last ALPEX regional meeting in June '94. A clear majority opted for the proposal by Hoinka and Volkert. We are indebted to the following colleagues from the Institut für Physik der atmospäre of DLR-Oberpfaffenhofen for contributing to the graphical generation of the logo: Jutta Graf, Martin Hagen, Dieter Heimann, Klaus Peter Hoinka, Gertraud Jacob, Martin Leutbecher, and Hans Volkert.