Years of the Maritime Continent (2017-2019) Observing the weather-climate system of the Earth’s largest archipelago to improve understanding and prediction of its local variability and global impact

Five scientific themes Theme 1: Atmospheric Convection. Its objective is to improve understanding of physical processes governing diurnal, synoptic, intraseasonal and seasonal variability of atmospheric convection and their interaction under the influence of the complex landsea distribution and topography. Theme 2: Ocean and Air-Sea Interaction. Its objective is to improve understanding of the controlling processes for the multi-scale diurnal, intraseasonal and seasonal variability of the ocean and air-sea interaction in the MC region under the influence of extremely complex bathymetry. Theme 3: Stratosphere-Troposphere Interaction. Its objective is to improve understanding of processes governing the dynamical coupling of the stratosphere and troposphere and their mass exchanges over the MC. Theme 4: Aerosol. Its objective is to improve understanding of the key processes by which the multi-scale variability and interaction of convection and circulation affect the production, transport, and disposition of aerosol and their interaction with clouds in the MC region. Theme 5: Prediction improvement. Its objective is to improve representations of key processes in weather and climate models based on their improved understanding.

Five main activities Data Sharing Field Campaign Modeling Through collecting, archiving, and sharing data from observing networks in the MC region, satellites and NWP products, build a two-year (2017-2019) comprehensive database for detailed documentation of multi-scale variability and interaction of the MC weather-climate system. Field Campaign Collect special observation through a two-year (2017-1019) field campaign to advance our understanding of physical processes key to the multi-scale variability and interaction of the MC weather-climate system. Modeling Quantify biases/errors of numerical models and potential for improvement of prediction and simulation skills through coordinated numerical experiments. Prediction and Applications Demonstrate potential prediction improvement through assimilating supplementary data from activities 1 and 2; Study optimizations of targeted prediction products for users, information disassembling through modern media, and support to emergence management. Outreaching and Capacity Building Educate the general public about the MC weather-climate system, its local variability and global impacts; Train the next generation of scientists, forecasters, and technicians for future research, operations, and applications of prediction and simulation tools.

Ground and ship observations Indonesian, Malaysian and Singapore networks : surface stations, RS, radars Aeronet & MPLNet (Nasa): sun photometers and micro-pulse lidars Field campaigns: Japan, US, UK, Indonesia (Lapan, BMKG), Taiwan, Australia, China, Korea Up to 6 Research Vessels Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) DOE ARM Radars (NCAR S-Pol, S-band profiler, etc.) Enhanced RS network …

Airborne observations UKMO/universities (UK) Facilities: FAAM BAe146-301 (sampling of air, aerosol, and cloud particles, radiation,etc.), UAS NCAR (USA) Facilities: C-130 (Nov – Dec 2018) LAPAN (Indonesia) Facilities: Lapan Surveillance UAV (LSU), Lapan Surveillance Aircraft (LSA), Cessna 206, N-219 CNES/CNRS (France) Facilities: Stratospheric balloons with dropsondes (Strateole), Aeroclippers