African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA)

The three aims of AMMA-International have been 

1. To improve our understanding of the West African Monsoon and its influence on the physical, chemical and biological environment regionally and globally.
2. To provide the underpinning science that relates climate variability to issues of health, water resources, and food security and defining the relevant monitoring strategies.
3. To ensure that the multidisciplinary research carried out in AMMA is effectively integrated with prediction and decision making activity. 

The University of Leeds has played a leading role in the international AMMA programme, both through NERC-funded projects and through participation in the AMMA-EU Framework 6 projects. More than 100 research papers have been generated from our participation in AMMA, and the research has influenced many fields, including of meteorology, climate physics, African capacity building, education, atmospheric composition, air quality, and weather forecasting.

AMMA personnel at Leeds 

• Doug Parker (Primary Investigator)
• Jim McQuaid
• Dwayne Heard
• Gerard Devine
• Christophe Messager
• Luis Garcia-Carreras
• Roisin Commane
• Barbara Brooks
• Matt Hobby
• Caroline Bain
• Cathryn Birch
• John Marsham
• Abdou Kassimou (secondment from Niger DMN)
• Trevor Ingham
• Mat Evans
• Lisa Whalley

AMMA-International web site.

AMMA-UK site (last updated 2006)

AMMA 2050

Papers

Tompkins AM; Parker DJ; Danour S; Amekudzi L; Bain CL; Dominguez A; Douglas MW; Fink AH; Grimes DIF; Hobby M; Knippertz P; Lamb PJ; Nicklin KJ; Yorke C (2012) Capacity building in meteorological education and research-lessons learned and future prospects, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93, pp.595-601. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00098.1

Birch CE; Parker DJ; Marsham JH; Devine GM (2012) The effect of orography and surface albedo on stratification in the summertime Saharan boundary layer: Dynamics and implications for dust transport, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, 117, . doi: 10.1029/2011JD015965

Dixon NS; Parker DJ; Garcia-Carreras L; Taylor CM; Harris PP; Marsham JH; Polcher J; Woolley A (2012) The effect of background wind on mesoscale circulations above variable soil moisture in the Sahel, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, . doi: 10.1002/qj.2012

Burton RR; Parker DJ; Dixon N; Devine GM; Chazette P; Flamant C; Haywood JM (2012) The Harmattan over West Africa: Nocturnal structure and frontogenesis, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, . doi: 10.1002/qj.2036

Garcia-Carreras L; Parker DJ (2011) How does local tropical deforestation affect rainfall?, GEOPHYS RES LETT, 38, . doi: 10.1029/2011GL049099

Bain CL; Parker DJ; Dixon N; Fink AH; Taylor CM; Brooks B; Milton SF (2011) Anatomy of an observed African easterly wave in July 2006, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 137, pp.923-933. doi: 10.1002/qj.812

Garcia-Carreras L; Parker DJ; Marsham JH (2011) What is the Mechanism for the Modification of Convective Cloud Distributions by Land Surface-Induced Flows?, J ATMOS SCI, 68, pp.619-634. doi: 10.1175/2010JAS3604.1

Crumeyrolle S; Tulet P; Gomes L; Garcia-Carreras L; Flamant C; Parker DJ; Matsuki A; Formenti P; Schwarzenboeck A (2011) Transport of dust particles from the Bodele region to the monsoon layer - AMMA case study of the 9-14 June 2006 period, ATMOS CHEM PHYS, 11, pp.479-494. doi: 10.5194/acp-11-479-2011

Polcher J; Parker DJ; Gaye A; Diedhiou A; Eymard L; Fierli F; Genesio L; Holler H; Janicot S; Lafore JP; Karambiri H; Lebel T; Redelsperger JL; Reeves CE; Ruti P; Sandholt I; Thorncroft C (2011) AMMA's contribution to the evolution of prediction and decision-making systems for West Africa, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.2-6. doi: 10.1002/asl.320

Lafore JP; Flamant C; Guichard F; Parker DJ; Bouniol D; Fink AH; Giraud V; Gosset M; Hall N; Holler H; Jones SC; Protat A; Roca R; Roux F; Said F; Thorncroft C (2011) Progress in understanding of weather systems in West Africa, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.7-12. doi: 10.1002/asl.335

Taylor CM; Parker DJ; Kalthoff N; Gaertner MA; Philippon N; Bastin S; Harris PP; Boone A; Guichard F; Agusti-Panareda A; Baldi M; Cerlini P; Descroix L; Douville H; Flamant C; Grandpeix JY; Polcher J (2011) New perspectives on land-atmosphere feedbacks from the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.38-44. doi: 10.1002/asl.336

Lebel T; Parker DJ; Flamant C; Holler H; Polcher J; Redelsperger JL; Thorncroft C; Bock O; Bourles B; Galle S; Marticorena B; Mougin E; Peugeot C; Cappelaere B; Descroix L; Diedhiou A; Gaye A; Lafore JP (2011) The AMMA field campaigns: accomplishments and lessons learned, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.123-128. doi: 10.1002/asl.323

Fink AH; Agusti-Panareda A; Parker DJ; Lafore JP; Ngamini JB; Afiesimama E; Beljaars A; Bock O; Christoph M; Dide F; Faccani C; Fourrie N; Karbou F; Polcher J; Mumba Z; Nuret M; Pohle S; Rabier F; Tompkins AM; Wilson G (2011) Operational meteorology in West Africa: observational networks, weather analysis and forecasting, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.135-141. doi: 10.1002/asl.324

Danuor S; Gaye A; Yacouba H; Mariko A; Bouzou MI; Maiga M; Da D; Ginoux K; Parker DJ; Polcher J; Laval K; Diallo D; Bourles B (2011) Education in meteorology and climate sciences in West Africa, ATMOS SCI LETT, 12, pp.155-159. doi: 10.1002/asl.326

Polcher J; Parker DJ; Gaye AT (2011) African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis: An integrated project for understanding of the West African climate system and its human dimension, Atmospheric Science Letters, 12, pp.1-1. doi: 10.1002/asl.331

Bain CL; Parker DJ; Taylor CM; Kergoat L; Guichard F (2010) Observations of the Nocturnal Boundary Layer Associated with the West African Monsoon, MON WEATHER REV, 138, pp.3142-3156. doi: 10.1175/2010MWR3287.1

Garcia-Carreras L; Parker DJ; Taylor CM; Reeves CE; Murphy JG (2010) Impact of mesoscale vegetation heterogeneities on the dynamical and thermodynamic properties of the planetary boundary layer, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 115, . doi: 10.1029/2009JD012811

Cairo F; Pommereau JP; Law KS; Schlager H; Garnier A; Fierli F; Ern M; Streibel M; Arabas S; Borrmann S; Berthelier JJ; Blom C; Christensen T; D'Amato F; Di Donfrancesco G; Deshler T; Diedhiou A; Durry G; Engelsen O; Goutail F; Harris NRP; Kerstel ERT; Khaykin S; Konopka P; Kylling A; Larsen N; Lebel T; Liu X; MacKenzie AR; Nielsen J; Oulanowski A; Parker DJ; Pelon J; Polcher J; Pyle JA; Ravegnani F; Riviere ED; Robinson AD; Rockmann T; Schiller C; Simoes F; Stefanutti L; Stroh F; Some L; Siegmund P; Sitnikov N; Vernier JP; Volk CM; Voigt C; von Hobe M; Viciani S; Yushkov V (2010) An introduction to the SCOUT-AMMA stratospheric aircraft, balloons and sondes campaign in West Africa, August 2006: rationale and roadmap, ATMOS CHEM PHYS, 10, pp.2237-2256.

Abdou K; Parker DJ; Brooks B; Kalthoff N; Lebel T (2010) The diurnal cycle of lower boundary-layer wind in the West African monsoon, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 136, pp.66-76. doi: 10.1002/qj.536

Reeves CE; Formenti P; Afif C; Ancellet G; Attie JL; Bechara J; Borbon A; Cairo F; Coe H; Crumeyrolle S; Fierli F; Flamant C; Gomes L; Hamburger T; Jambert C; Law KS; Mari C; Jones RL; Matsuki A; Mead MI; Methven J; Mills GP; Minikin A; Murphy JG; Nielsen JK; Oram DE; Parker DJ; Richter A; Schlager H; Schwarzenboeck A; Thouret V (2010) Chemical and aerosol characterisation of the troposphere over West Africa during the monsoon period as part of AMMA, ATMOS CHEM PHYS, 10, pp.7575-7601. doi: 10.5194/acp-10-7575-2010

Ferreira J; Reeves CE; Murphy JG; Garcia-Carreras L; Parker DJ; Oram DE (2010) Isoprene emissions modelling for West Africa: MEGAN model evaluation and sensitivity analysis, ATMOS CHEM PHYS, 10, pp.8453-8467. doi: 10.5194/acp-10-8453-2010

Cui XF; Parker DJ; Morse AP (2009) The Drying Out of Soil Moisture following Rainfall in a Numerical Weather Prediction Model and Implications for Malaria Prediction in West Africa, WEATHER FORECAST, 24, pp.1549-1557. doi: 10.1175/2009WAF2222240.1

Lavaysse C; Flamant C; Janicot S; Parker DJ; Lafore JP; Sultan B; Pelon J (2009) Seasonal evolution of the West African heat low: a climatological perspective, CLIM DYNAM, 33, pp.313-330. doi: 10.1007/s00382-009-0553-4

Agusti-Panareda A; Vasiljevic D; Bejaars A; Bock O; Guichard F; Nuret M; Mendez AG; Andersson E; Bechtold P; Fink A; Hersbach H; Lafore JP; Ngamini JB; Parker DJ; Redelsperger JL; Tompkins AM (2009) Radiosonde humidity bias correction over the West African region for the special AMMA reanalysis at ECMWF, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 135, pp.595-617. doi: 10.1002/qj.396

Flamant C; Knippertz P; Parker DJ; Chaboureau JP; Lavaysse C; Agusti-Panareda A; Kergoat L (2009) The impact of a mesoscale convective system cold pool on the northward propagation of the intertropical discontinuity over West Africa, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 135, pp.139-159. doi: 10.1002/qj.357

Hopkins JR; Evans MJ; Lee JD; Lewis AC; Marsham JH; McQuaid JB; Parker DJ; Stewart DJ; Reeves CE; Purvis RM (2009) Direct estimates of emissions from the megacity of Lagos, ATMOS CHEM PHYS, 9, pp.8471-8477.

Messager C; Parker DJ; Reitebuch O; Agusti-Panareda A; Taylor C; Cuesta J (2009) Structure and dynamics of the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer during the West African monsoon onset: observations and analyses from the research flights of 14 and 17 July 2006, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, . doi: 10.1002/qj.469

Lebel T; Parker D; Flamant C; Bourlès B; Marticorena B; Mougin E; Peugeot C; Diedhiou A; Haywood J; Ngamini J; Polcher J; Redelsperger J-L; Thorncroft C (2009) The AMMA field campaigns: multiscale and multidisciplinary observations in the West African region, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, . doi: 10.1002/qj.486

Taylor C; Harris P; Parker D (2009) Impact of soil moisture on the development of a Sahelian mesoscale convective system: a case-study from the AMMA Special Observing Period, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, . doi: 10.1002/qj.465

Haywood JM; Pelon J; Formenti P; Bharmal N; Brooks M; Capes G; Chazette P; Chou C; Christopher S; Coe H; Cuesta J; Derimian Y; Desboeufs K; Greed G; Harrison M; Heese B; Highwood EJ; Johnson B; Mallet M; Marticorena B; Marsham J; Milton S; Myhre G; Osborne SR; Parker DJ; Rajot JL; Schulz M; Slingo A; Tanre D; Tulet P (2008) Overview of the Dust and Biomass-burning Experiment and African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis Special Observing Period-0, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 113, . doi: 10.1029/2008JD010077

Parker DJ (2008) A simple model of coupled synoptic waves in the land surface and atmosphere of the northern Sahel, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 134, pp.2173-2184. doi: 10.1002/qj.343

Parker DJ; Fink A; Janicot S; Ngamini JB; Douglas M; Afiesimama E; Agusti-Panareda A; Beljaars A; Dide F; Diedhiou A; Lebel T; Polcher J; Redelsperger JL; Thorncroft C; Wilson GA (2008) THE AMMA RADIOSONDE PROGRAM AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING OVER AFRICA, B AM METEOROL SOC, 89, pp.1015-1027. doi: 10.1175/2008BAMS2436.1

Taylor CM; Parker DJ; Harris PP (2007) An observational case study of mesoscale atmospheric circulations induced by soil moisture, GEOPHYS RES LETT, 34, . doi: 10.1029/2007GL030572

Flamant C; Chaboureau JP; Parker DJ; Taylor CA; Cammas JP; Bock O; Timouk F; Pelon J (2007) Airborne observations of the impact of a convective system on the planetary boundary layer thermodynamics and aerosol distribution in the inter-tropical discontinuity region of the West African Monsoon, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 133, pp.1175-1189. doi: 10.1002/qj.97

Parker DJ (2007) And then came the rain, Planet Earth, Spring, .

Parker DJ; Lebel T; Bourles B (2007) Overview of the AMMA observing campaigns, Clivar Exchanges, 41, pp.4-6.

Redelsperger J-L; Thorncroft CD; Diedhiou A; Lebel T; Parker DJ; Polcher J (2007) African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis: An International Research Project and Multi-Year Field Campaign, CLIVAR Exchanges, 41, pp.2-3.

Redelsperger JL; Thorncroft CD; Diedhiou A; Lebel T; Parker DJ; Polcher J (2006) African monsoon multidisciplinary analysis - An international research project and field campaign, B AM METEOROL SOC, 87, pp.1739-+. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-87-12-1739