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Monsoon onset in West Africa application of satellite imagery

Monsunbeginn in West-Afrika. Eine Anwendung von Satellitenbildern

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Summary

The West African Monsoon Experiment (WAMEX) which was conducted from May to August 1979 took advantage of some special observing platforms such as the METEOSAT satellite for collecting information on the three dimensional structure of the monsoon which are not otherwise available through conventional networks.

Results presented in this paper highlight the significant contribution of satellite imagery as primary (in the form of cloud pictures) and secondary (derived wind vector from cloud motion) sources of unique data relating to the onset period of the monsoon in West Africa.

Analysis of data between 11th and 17th May, 1979 showed the first sustained monsoon surge — a feature which is characteristic of the onset. Synoptic features linked with the evolution of the surge are better defined from 200 mb wind vectors derived from satellite cloud pictures at high altitude.

Zusammenfassung

Das westafrikanische Monsun-Experiment (WAMEX), das von Mai bis August 1979 durchgeführt worden ist, nutzte Beobachtungen von Satelliten zur Gewinnung von Informationen über die dreidimensionale Struktur des Monsuns aus, die vom konventionellen Beobachtungsnetz nicht zur Verfügung standen.

Die in dieser Arbeit vorgelegten Ergebmsse zeigen den bedeutsamen Beitrag von Satellitenbildern in Form von Wolkenbildern und durch von der Wolkenbewegung abgeleiteten Windvektoren als Beobachtungsquellen für die Periode des Monsunbeginns in Westafrika.

Die Analyse der Beobachtungsdaten vom 11. bis 17. Mai 1979 behandelt die erste Monsunwelle, einen Vorgang, der fur den Monsunbeginn charakteristisch ist. Die mit der Entwicklung der Welle in Verbindung stehenden synoptischen Merkmale lassen sich aus den aus Wolkenbildem von Satelliten abgeleiteten Windvektoren im 200 mb-Niveau besser erklären.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria

    D. O. Adefolalu

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  1. D. O. Adefolalu
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Adefolalu, D.O. Monsoon onset in West Africa application of satellite imagery. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biocl., Ser. B 32, 219–230 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02273975

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