Epigone This project aims at studying the dynamics and predictability of cyclogenesis and Rossby waves of the North Atlantic and their impact on mesoscale phenomena occurring in Europe and the Mediterranean. This project involves collaboration between three laboratories, "Laboratoire d’Aérologie", "Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique" and "Groupe de Recherche sur l’Atmosphere Météorologique". This project has received an application for funding from INSU (Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers).

The issues addressed are those underlying T-NAWDEX   (THORPEX  -North Atlantic Waveguide and Downstream Impact Experiment). T-NAWDEX   is a project of a field campaign structured around the international research program THORPEX  . It aims at providing new evidences on the dynamics and predictability of weather systems of the North Atlantic scale. It should help to consolidate a large community around the basic research institutes and NWP   centers. It is thought as to be held simultaneously with that of HyMeX  , project centered on the water cycle in the Mediterranean. T-NAWDEX   can therefore be seen as the upstream component (geographically) of HyMeX  .

One of the main motivations of T-NAWDEX   and this project is based on the following observation. The quality of prediction of extreme weather events in Europe such as extreme winds or heavy precipitation events depends strongly on the correct representation in models of precursors located further upstream in the North Atlantic waveguide. Thus, the project focuses as much on the excitation and propagation of the North Atlantic and their impact on Europe and the Mediterranean.

Two types of studies are supposed to be done in parallel. On the one hand, fundamental studies on midlatitude cyclogenesis and Rossby waves within the framework of idealized numerical models (quasi-geostrophic or primitive-equations models). On the other hand, studies on predictability of Rossby waves and their impact on meso-scale phenomena in Western Europe and the Mediterranean that will require more elaborate high-resolution models.