THE 5 PHASES OF THE PROJECT

PHASE n°1: Preparation of the instrumentation

This first step aims to acquire and prepare the instruments relevant to the project to monitor the atmospheric water cycle. Some measuring instruments will be specially developed and designed for AWACA. This work also includes the design of the autonomous platforms (OPU) which will house the instruments and data acquisition systems, and which will have to provide the energy necessary for their operation.

PHASES n°2: Deployment and field work

The measuring instruments will be deployed in Antarctica, along a 1,100 kilometer transect between the Dumont d'Urville bases, on the coast, and Concordia, in the heart of the plateau. The French Polar Institute (IPEV) will take care of the logistics for the deployment. The instruments will take place in autonomous platforms (OPU).

PHASES n°3: Analysis of atmospheric processes

The aim is to take advantage of the data collected over nearly 4 years to characterize and better understand the atmospheric water cycle, in particular on the aspects of surface-atmosphere fluxes, isotopy, clouds and precipitation.

PHASES n°4: Parameterization and modeling

The data collected and the observations, once validated, will make it possible to improve the physical parameterizations in the climate models. The physical processes within the clouds (growth of droplets and crystals, conversion into precipitation, etc.) will thus be better represented. AWACA will then be able to benefit from regional and global climate models of tip for making reliable climate projections.

PHASES n°5: Reconstruction and projection of the climate

A set of Antarctic climate projections will be produced with regional and global climate models thoroughly assessed and validated. A reconstruction of the climate variability of the last 1000 years will also be developed.