Major outcomes of recent IGP and CIG meetings are summarized in the following neglecting the strict chronological order of the events.
After the adoption of the new MAP Data Access Policy by correspondence on 20 September 1997 (cf. MAP Newsletter #7 pp. 4-5), the IGP had to decide on the details of their implementation. Thereby the first point was the assignment of the individual data sets to the data categories defined in the Data Access Policy. Furthermore the conditions imposed on Supplemental Data and the access procedures implemented at the MAP Data Centre had to be agreed upon. The IGP unanimously adopted the proposals worked out by the MAP Data Base manager and the head of the MAP Programme Office. Most interestingly, the WMO Commission on Atmospheric Science (WMO/CAS) has taken positive notice of the MAP Data Access Policy at its recent meeting in Skopje.
The second item on the agenda of the extraordinary IGP meeting was the decision on the location of the MAP Operation Centre (MOC). After a careful discussion of the candidatures of Innsbruck and Milano-Linate, taking into the consideration the US position for the large research aircraft, it was felt that more specific knowledge on some points had still to be acquired before making the definitive choice. The IGP then decided by correspondence on 22 December 1997 that Innsbruck be the MAP Operation Centre (MOC) and Milano-Linate be the Project Operation Centre (POC) Radar for the activities on the southern side of the Alps. This set-up had evolved as the most reasonable and effective solution under the various possibilities and constraints given. The terms of reference for the POC have been worked out with support from the CIG.
The IGP members, especially the representatives of national meteorological services, were also informed about the forthcoming requests from MAP concerning support for the SOP. They mainly relate to launching extra radiosondes, to send forecasters to the MOC, to transmit data and products to the MOC in real time and to make available technical equipment.
The CIG undertook a big effort to update the inventory of available observing devices during the SOP and designed by several iterations, taking into account the interests of the experimental groups, preliminary instrumental set-ups for the target areas. This information forms part of the MAP Science Plan which has been drafted (mainly SSC work) and will be finalized for the Chamonix meeting. Funding of the French field phase contributions is confirmed. Most other projects are still subject to approval by the natinal funding agencies.
A big effort has also been initialized to fill the still present gaps in the MAP Data Base with regard to the MAP seasons and episodes. New links to the data providers have been forged by the efforts of the WG-ROUND. The identification of observing networks in the Alpine region and the consolidation of the station inventory has also made considerable progress.
The CIG also discussed the goals of the GOP which will start in October 1998. In summary, the scientific interest of the GOP is to document a full annual cycle by observations in as much temporal and spatial detail as possible and the development and application of data quality control procedures. The operational interest of the GOP is to prepare and test the data delivery procedures to the MDC and the MOC (cf. WG-ROUND).
Special measurements of the SOP which are transmitted in real time over the GTS can enter the data assimilation process of operational NWP suites. Such data shall be made available in the following order of priority: Extra radiosoundings, wind profilers, drop sondes, and other measurements in the vertical, extra SYNOPs and flight level aircraft data in the horizontal dimension.
The production of a level IIIb data set is highly desirable. Météo France will produce this type of data for the IOPs. The CIG is looking for further possibilities to obtain a Òre-analysisÓ of the entire SOP.
The CIG also coordinated and put forward the proposal to EUMETSAT for special METEOSAT operations during the SOP (see separate article).
