Meteorology of tropical West Africa: the Forecasters’ Handbook presents the science and practice of weather forecasting for an important region of the tropics. Connecting basic theory with forecasting practice, the book provides a unique training volume for operational weather forecasters, and is also suitable for students of tropical meteorology.
The West African region contains a number of archetypal climatic zones, meaning that the science of its weather and climate applies to many other tropical regions. West Africa also exhibits some of the world’s most remarkable weather systems, making it an inspiring region for students to investigate.
The weather of West Africa affects human livelihoods on a daily basis, and can contribute to hardship, poverty and mortality. Therefore, the ability to understand and predict the weather has the potential to deliver significant benefits to both society and economies.
The book includes comprehensive background material alongside documentation of weather forecasting methods. Many examples taken from observations of West African weather systems are included and online case-studies are referenced widely.
Chapter 1: Mean climate and seasonal cycle
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Rainfall and evaporation climatologies
1.3 Water vapour and clouds
1.4 Radiation, dust, sunshine duration, vegetation, and soil water
1.5 Pressure, temperature, humidity and wind at the surface
1.6 Upper air wind, mass and humidity fields
1.7 Summary schematics of the January and July WAM system
Chapter 2: Synoptic Systems
2.1 Scientific background
2.2 Operational methods and canonical synoptic patterns
Chapter 3: Deep Convection
3.1 Scientific background
3.2 Operational methods
Chapter 4: Local weather
4.1 Scientific background
4.2 Operational methods
Chapter 5: Dust
5.1 Scientific Background
5.2 Operational Methods
Chapter 6: Nowcasting
6.1 Scientific Background
6.2 Operational Methods for Nowcasting Severe Weather
Chapter 7: Subseasonal Forecasting
7.1 Scientific Background
7.2 Operational Methods
Chapter 8: Seasonal Forecasting
8.1 Scientific background
8.2 Operational methods
Chapter 9: Remote Sensing
9.1 Scientific Background
9.2 Operational Methods
9.3 Case Study, Presentations, and other Resources
Chapter 10: Numerical weather prediction over Africa
10.1 Scientific Background
10.2 Operational NWP over Africa
Chapter 11: West African Synthetic Analysis and Forecast: WASA/F
Introduction
11.1 The intertropical discontinuity (ITD), or intertropical front (ITF)
11.2 The Heat Low (HL) or thermal depression
11.3 The Subtropical Jet (STJ)
11.4 Features associated with midlatitudes
11.5 Mid-level dry air
11.6 The Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ)
11.7 The African Easterly Jet (AEJ)
11.8 African Easterly Waves (AEWs) and cyclonic vortices
11.9 The African Monsoon layer and the Monsoon Trough (MT)
11.10 Dust or Sand
11.11 Convection
(leitura online e APP)
