NASA/GISS Latest Animation: TRMM (meteorological satellite)
observations of 3-Hourly precipitation rates with streamlines of
near surface circulation (at 925 mb) from Reanalysis 2 for September
2006, AMMA Special Observing Period-3:

a)		b)

Animations are showing one animation: a) TRMM animation running with faster frames, and b) TRMM animation running with slower frames. Click each respective animation picture frame for a full screen view of the animation. Acknowledgements and Credits are due to our production team
at SCSU which includes Dr. John S. DaPonte, Mr. Munhutu Paidemwoyo, Mr. Bruno Nader, and Ruben Worrell (at NASA-GISS/NYC Department of Education).

NASA / Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Regional Climate Model RM3:

a)		b)

Animations showing one simulation. Streamlines in the animation show the a) 700mb, and 

b) 925mb circulation and color indicates the daily precipitation rate. Click to see gif animated movie (each ~ 20 MB). (Credit NASA/GISS, SCSU) Simulation of June-September 2003 climate by RM3 28-layers Regional Climate Model on 0.5 deg grid, driven by lateral boundary conditions from NCEP reanalysis.

c)		d)

Animations showing one simulation. Streamlines in the animation show the c) 700mb, and 

b) 925mb circulation and color indicates the daily precipitation rate. Click to see gif animated movie (each ~ 20 MB). (Credit NASA/GISS, SCSU) Simulation of June-September 2002 climate by RM3 16-layers Regional Climate Model on 0.5 deg grid, driven by lateral boundary conditions from NCEP reanalysis.

The day to day changes in meteorological fields over West Africa can be viewed in the accompanying animation of the RM simulation for June-September 2003, which feature streamlines of wind patterns as approximately 3 km altitude and near the Earth's surface, each superimposed on daily precipitation rates. Notice how some of the precipitation maxima move westward (to the left) and note also occasional wave-like crests in the 700 mb streamlines that invariably also advance westward. Counter-clockwise (cyclonic) circulations at the lower (925 mb) level move westward in tandem with the 700 mb waves. These features represent storms that move across West Africa on their way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Reference: Druyan, Fulakeza and Lonergan, 2006: Mesoscale analyses of West African summer climate: focus on wave disturbances, Climate Dynamics, 27, 459-481.

Note: To view the entire scientific brief go to http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/druyan_06

Please address all inquiries about this research or simulation data to Dr. Leonard Druyan.