Towards a Mediterranean GEWEX
H.-J. Bolle, S. I. Rasool , P. Try
1 The GEWEX Strategy
GEWEX stands for "Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment"(WCRP, 1990).
It is a sub-programme of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Its goal
is to determine the hydrological cycle by global measurements. To reach this goal
studies have been initiated under the GEWEX Continental-scale International
Project (GCIP) (WCRP, 1992) with the objectives as illustrated in Fig. I:
• Advanced modelling of the hydrological cycle and its effects;
• Prediction of the response of the hydrological cycle to environmental change;
• Improvement of observing techniques and data assimilation systems.
Global cycles generally can be investigated by global models or global measuring
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OBJECTIVES
• Determine the hydrological cycle and energy
thl.'l:e by mean of global mea. urements of
ob crvable atrno ph eric and urface properties.
• Model the global bydrological cycle and its
impact on the atrno phere, ocean and on the
land urface.
• Develop the ability to predict the variations of global and regional bydrological proce ses
and water re ource , and their response to environmental cbange.
• Foster the devc\opment of ob erving teclmiques data management, and a similis. tion
systems suitab le for operational application to long-range weather forecn t , hydrology, and
climate prediction .
Fig. 1. The major objectives of the WCRP - GEWEX programme