Under the heading ‘Challenges in Mountain Meteorology’ a one-week workshop devoted to the planning of the MAP field experiment was held in the premises of the Centre Stefano Franscini on the Monte Verità, located above Ascona in the heart of the Lago Maggiore target area. Huw Davies and Christoph Schär had obtained the facilities by submitting a convincing proposal in favour of MAP to ETH. The local organisation was supported by an efficient staff led by Eva Choffat. Her and her colleagues’ effort and commitment is greatly acknowledged. The overall aim of the workshop was to advance the preparation of the MAP Special Observing Period (SOP).
The workshop was attended by 71 participants from the following countries: Austria, Canada, Croatia, Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
The first day of the programme was reserved for detailed review of the science and the formulation of the scientific projects. The second day was devoted to establishing the desirable layout of the surface-based observing systems for the SOP. Separate working groups were formed to look into the set-up of radars, wind profilers, and surface observations in the Lago Maggiore, Rhine Valley, and Brenner target areas.
Funding decisions for most research aircraft flights only became available immediately prior to the workshop and were, in fact, very positive. A total amount of almost 600 flight hours were allocated to the 8 aircraft. Most of Wednesday was devoted to the detailed planning of these aircraft facilities. To this end, working group discussions on flight instrumentation were conducted, and different suggestions from various scientists were combined into a few comprehensive flight plans.
Key issues of organizational nature were approached on Thursday. This included the final timing of the SOP, which is now officially 7 September 1999 – 15 November 1999.
The agreement on the mission selection procedure was a further important achievement, as well as the definition of the key functions for conducting the experiment. Meanwhile the International Governing Panel (IGP) has elected as Scientific Directors Philippe Bougeault and Ronald Smith, as Operations Directors Dick Dirks
and Peter Binder. As Centre Directors Herbert Pümpel and Giuseppe Frustaci were confirmed for the MAP Operations Centre in Innsbruck and the Project Operation Centre Radar in Milano-Linate, respectively.
Further discussions were conducted about the apportionment of flight hours to the scientific projects, the preparation of forecasting procedures at the MAP Forecasting Office (in Innsbruck) and the communications between Innsbruck and Milano. Albeit some of these discussions were difficult since they touched upon critical issues, agreement was achieved in all the major aspects. However, much effort has still to be devoted to resolve all the details to ensure a smooth conduct of the experiment.
On Friday morning action items were identified. In particular, the work on the MAP Implementation Plan (MIP) was initiated. This document will be the reference handbook for the SOP. The results of the Ascona week are crucial ingredients to this document.
One of the final discussions was about fall back strategies: what do we do when the weather does not cooperate during the SOP? Quite a bundle of ideas was presented so that there is no concern that we will walk out ‘with empty hands’.
We should not close this report without mentioning that the weather during this week was not at all appropriate for wet MAP studies. On the contrary, PV banners and bright sun shine were predominant. The friendly weather and the laugh-bursts exiting mime show on Wednesday evening are only two facets which contributed to the enjoyable environment of the workshop.
