1. Radar Operations during AMMA SOP Alain Protat  Benin mesosite : Scanning Polarimetric Doppler X-band radar (X-Port) + Scanning Polarimetric Doppler C-band radar (Ronsard) + Bistatic Receiver + Vertical UHF / VHF radar + Vertical Micro Rain Radar.  Niamey mesosite : Scanning Doppler C-band radar (MIT) + AMF vertically-pointing 95 GHz Doppler Cloud Radar  UHF network : Bamako, Ouaga, Djougou Science Objectives : precipitation estimates, water budgets, MCS dynamics and microphysics, interactions between AEW and MCSs, MCSs feedbacks on monsoon onset and dynamics Additional interest : provide guidance to aircraft operations and decision-making

2. Benin Mesosite

3. Ronsard C-band radar strategy at the Benin mesosite “Surveillance” mode (200 km range, 200 m range resolution) : 1 PPI with 2 elevations (1°, 4°) as long as there is no precip 1 PPI with 2 elevations (1°, 4°) + 2 RHIs (from 0 to 12° elevation every 0.45°) in relevant direction when precip in range 100-200 km Real-time products : 1 QL PPI 1° + 1 QL RHI every 15 minutes, MCS propagation speed Optional (for now) : mean wind profiles every 15 minutes (precip) “Survival” mode : Vertically-pointing, power on, around 15 minutes Gust front (around 15 minutes before the passage of convective line at the radar) “Precipitation” mode (Ronsard 100 km range, 100 m range resolution): Total duration of sequence : 13 min but repetition of the low elevation angle every 6,5 min minutes for precip estimates at nearly the same time as X-Port. Inside a sequence : VAD1 (11 elevs) (5,5 min) + vertical (spectrum) (0,5 min) + RHI 1 (0,5 min) VAD2 (11 elevs, interleaved) (5’30”) + vertical (spectrum) (0,5 min) + RHI 2 (0,5 min) Real-time products : 1 QL PPI 1° + 1 QL RHI every 15 minutes, MCS propagation speed Optional (for now) : near real-time winds from Ronsard + bistatic receiver.

4. X-Port radar strategy at the Benin mesosite “Precipitation” mode (60 km range) Total duration of sequence : 7 min Inside a sequence : VAD (10 elevs) (6 min) + vertical (spectrum) (50 s) + RHI West (10 s) Real-time products : ? Bistatic Receiver strategy at the Benin mesosite Determined by Ronsard sampling Real-time products : Can provide horizontal wind vectors in near real-time Interesting for flight guidance ? Could be sent to Ronsard and then to Niamey AOC. Recommendation from TT8 ?

5. Coordinated radar observations at the Benin mesosite Surveillance mode using Ronsard 200 km range Precipitation mode (Ronsard 100 km range + X-Port 60 km range): Start sequences at 00, 15, 30, and 45 minutes of an hour (15 minutes cycle) Coordinate each start of a VAD mode (times 00 min and 07 min of a cycle) We could also : Adapt RHI directions according to flight tracks if needed as operators will be on site, communicating with Niamey (hopefully) What remains to be done (action AP + Benin AOC) : Test correlation method for propagation speed estimate from Ronsard PPIs Compute near real-time horizontal winds ? Install communication devices (Djougou, Kopargo, Kolokonde, Nangatchori) Finalize rotations of personnel (almost done) Set up a coordination of the Benin mesosite for SOP to report to Niamey (scientific coordinator + scientific secretary ?)