The North American Monsoon Experiment

1. The North American Monsoon Experiment • Accomplishments and ongoing activities • Data practice • Linkages and recommendations to other programs • NAME Legacy • Plans

2. Progress in North American Monsoon Research - NAME Accomplishments: (2001-2007) • Execution of a major continental scale field campaign during summer of 2004 (J. Climate special issue on NAME) • Extensive improvement in characterization of the diurnal cycle of regional hydrometeorological processes (precipitation, clouds, land surface fluxes) • Completion of two major model intercomparison projects (NAMAP I & II) • Assessment of special obs. on operational data assimilation and forecasts Ongoing Activities: (2008-2010) • Continue building on improvements in seasonal forecasts • Conduct Forecast assessment program (NAME Forecast Forum) • Completion of NAME regional observing system design

3. Data practice • Early collaboration between modeling, data assimilation and observational groups is essential for proper field campaign design.  NAME was very successful at this in many regards though there were some cases/efforts that would have clearly benefited from improved coordination. • Approximately 95% of the data was available 1 year after 2004 NAME field campaign. • The NAME data archive now contains 100% of the field campaign data and most ongoing observational datasets. • Model runs made for the NAMAP effort and derivative products are also available online • Tremendous efforts of Jose Meitin and Steve Williams (UCAR JOSS) for success in gathering the NAME 2004 datasets. • There is still a NAME data legacy issue, as many of these datasets are distributed at various labs / universities.

4. Linkages and recommendations to other programs • NAME possesses a strong presence in VAMOS as well as within the WCRP global monsoons working group • Moving forward, NAME is closely working with the emerging Intra-America Seas Climate Process Study (IASCLiP) • To ensure a good connection between NAME and IASCLIP, it is important for one or more of the NAME SWG members to participate on the IASCLIP SWG. • Way Higgins: In hindsight, it would have been good to have more folks working with coupled climate models IN ADVANCE of NAME 2004 to help target the field observations. Subsequent field campaigns (e.g. VOCALS) are following this model and consequently are more likely to have an immediate impact on coupled model simulations and predictions and ultimately climate prediction products and services. In that regard, I urge IASCLIP to do the same.

5. The Legacy of NAME… • Clear scientific advancement in understanding the multi-scale Ocean-Land-Atmosphere processes controlling NAM precipitation variability • Improved operational (SMN-NWS) and academic ties between U.S and Mexican agencies and research institutions • Deep, process-centered observational database from the 2004 Enhanced Observing Period • Enhanced observational infrastructure • Ground-based precipitation measurements (ground validation) • A clear scientific basis for a reliable operational sounding and GPS-PWV network over Mexico Remaining research issues: • Integrated picture for initiating, sustaining extra-tropical transport and moist convergence (American monsoon systems) • Continental modes/teleconnection behavior, linkage to IAS region • Climate change impacts

6. Planned action Items • Evaluate forecast contributions to the NAME Forecast Forum • Work with human dimensions researchers on translating NAME research and forecasting products to regional decision makers • Finalize the NAME observing system design and link to other programs • Proceed with special issue on land-atmosphere interactions and ecohydrological processes in the North American Monsoon region (J. Arid Environments) • Finalize transition and coordination of relevant NAME issues to IASCLiP • Finalize articulation of NAME Legacy and plan the capstone meeting of the North American Monsoon Experiment. From this meeting, produce a capstone synthesis document of NAME research.