Scientific Contributions to MAP in Austria


In Austria as an Alpine country a natural and vital interest in Alpine Meteorology has been manifest 
since the beginning of atmospheric research. Hence, practically all austrian research groups active in this 
field  are willing to contribute to the scientific programme of MAP. Sponsored by the Austrian Science 
Foundation (FWF) and by the EU (4th Framework Programme), already during the last few years a series of 
research projects have been conducted, dealing with the analysis, diagnostics and modeling of the Alpine 
atmosphere. For MAP-SOP another four research projects have been granted by the FWF which allow an 
active participation of Austrian groups in the field programme.
	Both target areas north of the Alpine divide of the MAP field programme SOP (Brenner cross-
section, Rhein valley, Lago Maggiore and Friuli-Julian Alps) cover parts of Austria. Therefore the Austrian 
field measurements concentrate on these areas.
	Brenner gap: The Brenner-Foehn belongs to the best known foehn areas of the whole Alps and 
has been investigated in several field campaigns in the past. The early findings have made Austria a leading 
country in the area of foehn research and were internationally acknowledged. The behavior of the 
atmosphere close to the ground during foehn, which strongly influences the weather in the Tyrol both sides 
of the Alpine crest is reasonably well understood. However, we still lack detailed knowledge of the vertical 
structure and temporal evolution of the foehn flow. For the first time in history during MAP-SOP we will try 
to fill this gap by means of highly sophisticated modern observing technology. The Brenner Pass represents 
the lowest gap in the Alpine divide, through which air may pass the obstacle at rather low levels (gap flow). 
Therefore the flow in this constriction differs considerably from the general foehn flow across the Alps. The 
investigations carried out by the Meteorological Department of the University of Innsbruck and the 
Agricultural University of Vienna together with international partners will focus on the dynamics and 
interaction between the low- and high level flow regimes. For that purpose besides profiles of surface 
stations along the Wipp-valley (Brenner to Innsbruck) some radiosoundings, LIDAR (Light-RADAR) and 
SODAR (Sound-RADAR) observations will be carried together with measurements of heavily 
instrumented meteorological research aircraft at different levels.
	Rhine-valley: In contrast to the Brenner section, the Rhine valley is embedded in a much more 
complex topography; with different orientation of the main valley segments, a series of tributary valleys and 
mountain chains crossing the main flow direction. Furthermore, differently to the Wipp valley the Rhine 
valley leads directly into the Alpine forelands, where a shallow cold air pool frequently prohibits a 
penetration of the warm Foehn air to the ground. This behavior implies some consequences for air quality. 
The shollow cold air pool may lead to a considerable enrichment of pollutants, which is not sufficiently 
forecast up to now. If the foehn flow penetrates the ground, wind gusts may be strong enough to cause 
damage to constructions and forests from time to time. This severity is most probably influenced by flow 
channeling due to tributary valleys. Therefore the investigations concentrate to the foehn flow in such side 
valleys. The Meteorological Department of the University of Vienna will focus its measurements to the 
Brandner valley from the Swiss border down to Bludenz in the Walgau. The behavior of the shallow cold air 
pool in the Austrian/Swiss Rhine valley will be investigated by the Division of Environmental Meteorology 
of the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Vienna, together with international partners. 
Similarly to the Brenner target area, also here besides a surface mesonet some remote sensing instruments 
will be installed supported by instrumented aircraft observations. The aim of the investigations in the 
Brenner and Rhine valley target areas is an improvement of a local foehn forecast by means of high 
resolution numerical models, especially the detection of gravity wave breaking as a severe hazard to 
aviation.
	The heavy precipitation research in the southern Alpine target areas is expected to improve also the 
forecast of such events in Austria because all observational data and the know how will be transferred 
between all MAP participants liberally.
	A further research project at the Meteorological Department of the University of Vienna deals with 
the creation of an Alpine composite of different national lightning detection systems. With this it will be  
possible for the first time to follow the development of thunderstorm systems in the whole Alpine region 
with a high degree of accuracy  and hence to improve the short range forecast of flash floods. It will thus also 
be possible to establish a  homogenous climatology of thunderstorm occurrence over the Alps .
	The Austrian financial contribution to the scientific activities of MAP lies in the order of approx. 15 
Mill ATS (1.1 Mill EURO).