The IGP reconvened to its second meeting in the framework of the MAP Meeting 1996 in Hall in Tyrol on 22 May 1996. Four new members have accepted to serve as representatives of their respective institutions in this important committee, namely Dr. D. Cadet, CNRS/INSU, France, Dr. F. Delsol, WMO, Dr. F. Mesinger, NOAA, USA, Prof. G. Maracchi, CNR, Italy. Certainly, establishing the data policy for the MAP Data Centre (MDC) constituted the most important issue for the IGP to deal with. Aspects of hydrology and issues related to the definition of the field phase like the MAP Operation Centre (MOC) and radar networking had to be treated also, and progress has been reported concerning the national weather services' direct financial contributions to MAP. Moreover, after a careful evaluation during the summer months the IGP has decided to postpone the field phase from 1998 to 1999.
The MDC is of crucial importance for many efforts to be made during the prefield phase. Collecting high-resolution data sets for the Alpine area has been recognized to be a delicate matter and particular attention has been paid to preparing an acceptable data policy with regard to the MDC. The good news are that the IGP has approved the Data Access Policy (see page 2) as elaborated by the CIG and SSC with respect to general and sensitive data which are vital for Phase I (for definitions see Table 1 on page 3). With respect to field phase data and real time data the policy will be reconsidered at a later stage. The IGP required a specific registration procedure (see page 7) including a project abstract for every individual scientist interested to work with the MDC, with no exceptions for any MAP committee member.
French, Italian, and Swiss hydrologists showed some considerable interest to contribute to MAP in providing research work and observational data. A summary report on the hydrology workshop held in Zurich April 26, 1996 is given in the next article of this Newsletter. Concerning a possible link between MAP and GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment), WMO representative Dr. F. Delsol presented the structure of GEWEX and noted that the programme design requests of GEWEX are compatible with respect to MAP although the time scale of hydrological processes under consideration might differ between the two. Concerning the field phase the IGP noted the importance of the coordination of radar usage and refered to existing activities dealing with radar networking GORN and COST-75. Generally, operational aspects necessary for real-time products for the field phase require the location of MOC to be defined rather soon.
The Programme Office and the Data Centre constitute organisational
backbone of MAP and funding for it is being sought within EUMETNET,
i.e. the European national weather services. A programme decision
has already been signed by seven services plus some funding has
been committed by services outside of EUMETNET. A contract is
now underway to formalise and allocate the funding until the end
of 1999.
During the summer months after its second meeting, the IGP has discussed and carefully evaluated a possible shift of the field phase from 1998 to 1999. It took a vote by correspondence and the outcome prevalently has supported the delay. Briefly summarized the countries' positions are that the heavy involvement of France in the field campaign of FASTEX in 1997 makes a substantial participation in MAP difficult for 1998, not least with respect to the deployment of research aircraft, research radar and wind profilers. For Austria the availability of scientists and staff, as well as budgeting are more favourable for 1999, while for Italy a more thorough preparation of observing systems and more effective internal coordination is possible. Germany, Switzerland and U.S. agree with the shift to 1999. Therefore by decision of the IGP the MAP field phase is postponed from 1998 to 1999.
Next meeting of the IGP will take place just prior to the MAP
Meeting 1997.
