THE SAARC STORM: A Coordinated Field Experiment on Severe Thunderstorm Observations and Regional Modeling over the South Asian Region

• Published in: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 2014-04, Vol.95 (4), p.603-617
• Main Authors: Das, Someshwar, Mohanty, U. C., Tyagi, Ajit, Sikka, D. R., Joseph, P. V., Rathore, L. S., Habib, Arjumand, Baidya, Saraju K., Sonam, Kinzang, Sarkar, Abhijit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Convection; Field experiments; Investigations; Meteorology; Seasons; Severe weather; Squalls; Storms; Thunderstorms; Weather; Weather forecasting; Wind
• ISSN: 0003-0007; 1520-0477
• DOI: 10.1175/bams-d-12-00237.1

This article describes a unique field experiment on Severe Thunderstorm Observations and Regional Modeling (STORM) jointly undertaken by eight South Asian countries. Several pilot field experiments have been conducted so far, and the results are analyzed. The field experiments will continue through 2016. The STORM program was originally conceived for understanding the severe thunderstorms known as nor'westers that affect West Bengal and the northeastern parts of India during the pre-monsoon season. The nor'westers cause loss of human lives and damage to properties worth millions of dollars annually. Since the neighboring South Asian countries are also affected by thunderstorms, the STORM program is expanded to cover the South Asian countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It covers all the SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) in three phases. Some of the science plans (monitoring the life cycle of nor'westers/severe thunderstorms and their three-dimensional structure) designed to understand the interrelationship among dynamics, cloud microphysics, and electrical properties in the thunderstorm environment are new to severe weather research. This paper describes the general setting of the field experiment and discusses preliminary results based on the pilot field data. Typical lengths and the intensity of squall lines, the speed of movements, and cloud-top temperatures and their heights are discussed based on the pilot field data. The SAARC STORM program will complement the Severe Weather Forecast Demonstration Project (SWFDP) of the WMO. It should also generate large-scale interest for fueling research among the scientific community and broaden the perspectives of operational meteorologists and researchers.