THE 5 PHASES OF THE PROJECT

PHASE 1: Instrumentation preparation

This first phase aims to acquire and prepare the instruments relevant to the project for monitoring the atmospheric water cycle. Some measuring instruments will be specifically developed and designed for AWACA. This work also includes the design of the autonomous platforms (OPUs) that will house the instruments and data acquisition systems, and that must provide the energy required for their operation.

PHASE 2: Deployment and fieldwork

The measuring instruments will be deployed in Antarctica along a 1,100-kilometre transect between the Dumont d’Urville station on the coast and Concordia station in the heart of the plateau. The French Polar Institute (IPEV) will be responsible for the logistics of the deployment. The instruments will be installed on autonomous platforms (OPUs).

PHASE 3: Analysis of atmospheric processes

The aim is to make use of the data collected over nearly four years to characterise and better understand the atmospheric water cycle, in particular the aspects related to surface–atmosphere fluxes, isotopes, clouds, and precipitation.

PHASE 4: Parameterisation and modelling

The collected data and observations, once validated, will make it possible to improve physical parameterisations in climate models. Physical processes within clouds (growth of droplets and ice crystals, conversion into precipitation, etc.) will thus be better represented. AWACA will then be able to rely on state-of-the-art regional and global climate models, enabling reliable climate projections.

PHASE 5: Climate reconstruction and projection

A set of climate projections for Antarctica will be produced using thoroughly evaluated and validated regional and global climate models. A reconstruction of climate variability over the past 1,000 years will also be developed.