AMEGEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment

GAME Letter
A New Phase of GAME
Tetsuzo Yasunari
Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba
yasunari@atm.geo.tsukuba.ac.jp
The Intensive Observing Period (IOP) for the four
regional experiments have finished successfully, including the GAME-Siberia region, where the IOP was implemented in spring through summer of 2000. The data
sets obtained through these experiments are being released through GAIN, as is reported by K. Takahashi
in this issue. The objectively-analyzed GAME reanalysis data are also being released (as described in thisissue by N. Yamazaki). The 5th session of the GAMEInternational Science Panel (GISP) was held in Junein Tokyo, and we discussed further cooperation andcooperation of the overall activities of GAME. The
agreement was met on the need for promoting cooperative research, including monitoring, data analyses
and modeling. GAME-AAN, as reported in this issue,
needs further continuous monitoring of surface radiation, energy and water fluxes, to reveal seasonal andinterannual variations of surface radiation, and energybalances on various surface climatological conditionsof monsoon Asia. The regional modeling of climate
and hydrological processes in the four regional experiments has started based on the data sets of the IOPs
and other related hydro-meteorological data archived
as part of the regional experiments. These activities
need further involvement of scientists and engineersof the regional and local institutions who worked together in the data collections during the IOPs.
Though the first phase of GAME (FY1996 toFY2000) is being over, GISP agreed to extend thisphase, or to build up the second phase, particularly
for promoting the cooperative research activity basedon the data obtained through the first phase. The important task of the second phase should be to further

No.2

November 2000

understand physical processes, particulary land surface hydrological processes, cloud/precipitation processes, and related atmospheric boundary layer processes, and to improve model parameterizations ofthese processes which are essential for improving seasonal forecast of Asian monsoon and regional hydrological cycle in each part of the Monsoon Asia. As astep for this research phase, we are currently editing
GAME Special Issue of the Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, which will be published in
February of 2001.
I also believe that this new research phase of
GAME should be actively utilized as a bridge to the
new WCRP/GEWEX initiative of the global-scale
study of the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period(CEOP), which is scheduled in a time-frame of 20022003. The current status of CEOP is briefly reported
in this issue by T. Koike.
I do hope that the second phase of GAME would
be a good step-up for developing the cooperation andcoordination in the studies of climate and water problem of monsoon Asia under the changing earth environment within the Asian countries and the international science community.

Contents
A New Phase of GAME
1
Application of GAME-T in Thailand
2-3
Progress of Siberia Regional Project in 1999/
2000
4
Upper Air Characteristic Features Over Indian Stations During GAME 1998

5-7

Current status of GAME reanalysis
GAME-AAN: Current Status
GAIN: Current Status
CEOP as a GAME Follow-on

7-9
9-11
11-13
13-14

Summary of the 5th GAME International
Sicence Panel Meeting

15-16

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Nov. 2000
Application of GAME-T in Thailand
Thada Sukhapunaphandh
Royal Irrigation Department, Thailand

1. BackgroundIn most region of the world the water resourcesreflect the climate with the influence modified by thesurface topography, soils and geology. Climate is particularly critical to Thailand since surface water is theprevalent source of water used. Hence, rainfall is critical in terms of both timing and distribution.
Thailand has a advanced agricultural system andgenerally well operated water management system: yet
the growing need for water appears most heavily related to the needs of an expanding of population andThai economy, which requires more water to meet its
expanding agricultural energy demands as well as anindustrial use.
Natural disasters caused by flood and drought occur more frequently and tend to be more severe than
before, possibly resulting from inadvertent weather
modification and another unsolved development problems such as deforestation, changing of land uses andincreasing of environmental pollution. Development
patterns in Thailand that ignore sustainable water management are exposing communities to greater risks tothose disasters.
It is quite clear that increasing national water management efficiency requires knowledge and understanding of various characteristic of weather patterns andtheir impacts on water resources focusing on both regional and local scales.
Recognizing the need for the development andimplementation of a more comprehensive scientific approach to the design, operation and evaluation of thenational water resources management, Thailand has
been involved with the series of data observation andexperimental activities related to the atmosphere andhydrological cycle in tropic region under the GEWEX/GAME-T since 1995.
GAME-T can be defined as a regional study of

GAME Letter No. 2

Tropical Monsoon Regions under GAME.
The major objectives for Phase I of GAME-T are:1) To investigate the global energy and water cycle,
which is the objectives of GEWEX, in a local scale.
2) To establish and improve surface hydrological modelfor the global scale land-atmosphere interactions.
3) To evaluate the effect of the variation of the global
energy and water cycle to the human society, especially in southeast Asia region.
4) To build up comprehensive hydro-meteorological
data set in the southeast monsoon Asian region,
from Japan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand,
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia.
2. Future Plan for GAME-T
Scientific researches based on various observationand experiments under GAME-T are undergoing, andbasically successful. Data is now being organized andwill be released for worldwide benefit.
Future research programs would be based on experiences gained from GAME. The multi-disciplinary
approach program would be conducted through the
National Research Council of Thailand as a key coordinating body for various Thai Institutions and Japanese researchers.
Thai researchers proposed more research topics
focusing on water resources and agriculture management issues. These include the followings:- Social and economic problems on water resources,
land use and water management- Hydro-meteorological radar network program forreservoir and irrigation management- Monsoon forecasting and long range weather prediction- Flood and drought forecasting and warning systems- Upgraded utilization of satellites and GIS- Impact of population, land use and industrial growths
on the environment and natural water cycle in national and regional scales
To response to the rising interest for GAME-T
project, the Japanese and Thai researchers are pleased

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GAME Letter No. 2

Nov. 2000

to continue sharing their skill in more comprehensive
research studies. Detail planning for GAME-T Phase
II are under preparation. The provision of GAME-T
Phase II are listed below.
GAME-T Phase II
Motivations:- More scientific approach is required to understandthe global energy and water cycle- Further research focusing on application of research
results to benefit the water resource management- Maintain friendship in international research community
Objectives:- Similar to Phase I -more focusing on the above motivations
Some related programs:- CEOP (Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period)- GLASS (Global Land-Atmosphere System Study)- WWAP (World Water Assessment Program)Continued observations are crucially important:- Three sites of surface fluxes in Thailand (KogMa
forest, Sukhothai paddy field and EGAT tower)- Intensive observational site in Sri Samrong- GPS measurements in Bangkok, Chiangmai- Rain gage network- Wind profiler at KMITL- Satellite data receiving at AIT
New observations:- Wind profiler and other additional instruments at Sri
Samrong- Hourly rainfall network- Water sampling for chemical and stable isotope measurements: rain, stream, soil moisture, and groundwater
3. Special Remarks
Thailand is initially classified hydrologically into 25
river basins. These basins can be further aggregatedinto 5 regions, namely, North, Central, Northeast, East,and South. There are three main sources of fresh wa-

3
ter available in any river basins, namely, rainfall, stream
flow and ground water. Water demand can be classified into non-consumptive and consumptive. Typical
non-consumptive uses are hydropower, navigation andenvironmental requirement, while consumptive uses
are agriculture, municipality or domestic and household and industrial water supply.
All river basins in Thailand are likely subject toflood every rainy season. Degree of damage depends
upon various measures, flood warning, flood forecasting and flood protection included flood zoning. Floods
can occur at any time, but weather patterns have astrong influence on when and where floods happen.
Typhoon, or storms can cause floods in the rainy season in the northeast and especially in the south during
the late rainy season. Thunderstorms are relatively small
but intense storms that can cause flash floods in smaller
streams in late summer in the east coast. Frontal storm
form can cause floods in the central plain of Thailand
during rainy season.
Drought is another seasonal phenomenon whererain does not fall or fall in insufficient amount. Without storage, surface or ground water, people tend tosuffer from lack of water that could lead to other socioeconomic damage.
Millions of dollar and countless lives can be saved
each year from timely and accurate predictions of bothfloods and droughts including early warning well-trained
mitigation action. These tasks fall into the subject ofnational water resources management.
Understanding of the whole process of global energy and water cycle system that leads to better explanation for regional and local scale weather phenomena will be useful to improve accuracy of weather
prediction and proper water management strategy for
Thailand. Therefore, maintaining international researchand experimental cooperation under the GAME-T is agreat benefit to alleviate not only national disasters for
the Thai people but also for the world community.

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Nov. 2000

GAME Letter No. 2

Progress of Siberia Regional Projectin 1999/2000
Tetsuo Ohata
Hokkaido University /Frontier Observational
System for Global Change, Japanohata@pop.lowtem.hokudai.ac.jp
Alexander Georgiadi
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of
Sciences, Russia
galex@online.ru
The followings are the progress of Siberia regional
project.

1).Continuation and extension of observation of variety of land surfaces in Yakutsk area
At Spasskaya tower site, heat/water exchange andvegetation condition, ground surface layer conditions
at a larch forest site was continued in 1999 which had
wet climate, and 2000. The second tower was built at
a pine forest, and the third 24 m tower was built in thelarch but less dense younger forest, and other systems
were built at grass surfaces.
2). Third year observation at Tiksi tundra site:
Third year meteo/hydrological observation has been
made at two drainages (5 and 40 km2). There, ACOS
meteorological measurement systems was operated andgood quality year round data was obtained. Detail studies of heat/water exchange, vegetation and soil textures were done including measurement of unevensnow cover. Also, aerial observation method using ahelicopter was newly introduced in 1999-2000, measuring surface spectral radiance (visible range), surface temperature and surface conditions by a video
camera.
3). Observational work at other area:
Drainage water budget study at Mogot experimental site in southern part of Lena (north of Tynda) started
in July 2000, which was postponed due to permission
and logistic problems.

4). Modeling and satellite analysis:
Simulation of Lena River out flow was made. A
regional circulation model was tested against theYakutsk area, and NDVI analysis and snow cover estimation by microwave were continued.
Russian Group tested global climatic model MSU
and LAMBLS, and the model of water cycle of small
and medium watersheds, ECOMAG and a model ofmonthly water balance were adapted to permafrost conditions.
5). Implementation of IOP 2000 atmosphere-land surface interaction:
The target study area was north of the Yakutsk 80
x 40 km area connecting the Spasskaya Pad area andthe Tungulu area (alas developing area), and the period was from April to June 2000. Observation equipments employed were :1. Surface observation
Left bank (Spasskaya): 2 forest towers (larch, pine)
Right bank (Tunguru): 1 forest tower, 2-3 grassland masts
2. Atmosphere
Aircraft: Mean meteor. values, flux (fast response
wind, temp., and humidity). Isotope and CO2. 9
days from April 24 to June 18
Enhanced Radio-sonde soundings: 4 sites. 1 at
Spasskaya, 4 times a day at 3 aerological station(Hydromet Service) piball measurements
3. Surface observation network within the study areafor data sets driving models
6). Future planned activities:
Analysis of observed results and integration of results obtained by various methods will be made. For
presentation and discussion of analysis and publication of the results, “The 3rd International Workshop
on Water and Energy Cycle in Siberia and GAME” isplanned for March 15-16, 2001 in Tokyo.

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GAME Letter No. 2

5

Nov. 2000

Upper Air Characteristic Features Over Indian
Stations During GAME 1998

3. Advancement of southwest monsoon during the
IOP

G.S. Prakasa Rao, U.R. Joshi and U.S. De

Southwest monsoon was set in over Kerala on 2nd

India Meteorological Department, Pune

June. By 15th June it had covered Madhya

imdpune@pn3.vsnl.net.in

Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidharbha, parts of
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and parts of east Bihar.

1. Introduction

By 17th June it had covered Delhi, Gujarat, East

India being an agricultural country the economy

Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. By 30th

mainly depends on the monsoon rainfall and its vari-June it has covered the whole country. The progress

ability. The long range forecasting of monsoon rainfallof southwest monsoon is shown in Fig. 1.

is a matter of great concern for the people. The

Two systems crossed during this period one eachGEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME) wasalong west coast (Arabian Sea) and east coast (Bay ofstarted in 1996 as part of GEWEX (Global Energy

Bengal) during the onset phase of monsoon. A severe

and Water Cycle Experiment) under WCRP (World

cyclonic storm crossed the Gujarat coast on 9th June

Climate Research Programme). In 1998, GAME In-

and a deep depression crossed east coast neartensive Observing Period (IOP) was implemented and

Visakhapatnam on 14th June.

India Meteorological Department being a member of
GAME collected intensive radiosonde data during this

4. Freezing Level Heights

period by taking additional ascents. The upper air data

Figure 2 shows mean freezing level heights for 00,

were collected for nine stations viz. Patiala, Delhi,

06, 12 and 18 UTC during phase 1 and phase 2. In

Mohanbari, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Patna,

general (except Patna), the freezing level heights are

Ranchi and Calcutta for 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC in

between 5000 and 5500 gpm during phase 1 and be-

two phases. The first phase of observations were taken

tween 5500 and 6000 gpm during phase 2. It meansfrom 15th May to 15th June and the second phasethat freezing level heights occur at higher altitudes

from 1st July to 31st July, 1998, covering the onset

when the monsoon is fully established over the coun-and active phases of the summer Indian monsoon.

try. Before the onset of monsoon, continental air mass

We have analysed these observational data to exam-(Tc) prevails over Northern India, while the main char-ine the characteristics of tropopause and freezing

acteristic of the southwest monsoon period is the preva-

level heights during the two phases.

lence of a highly warm moist air in great depth overmost parts of India and represents maritime air mass

2. Data(Tm). Due to the differences in the air mass charac-

Data collected during IOP for the two phases wereteristics the differences in the freezing level heights

scrutinized, processed, quality controlled and archived

are seen. Diurnal variation is also seen in the freezingat National Data Centre, Pune. This archived data wereheights with maximum occuring at 06 UTC. The dif-utilized for the study. Figure 1 shows the radiosonde

ferences in the tropopause heights during the twostations where enhanced observations were taken dur-phases are increasing from east to west with Lucknow,

ing IOP.

Delhi and Patiala showing more differences.

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Nov. 2000

GAME Letter No. 2

Figure 3 shows the percentage frequencies of freezing level heights over Calcutta during phase 1 and phase
2. Before the onset of monsoon (i.e. phase 1) around
65% of occasions the heights are between 4500 and
5500 gpm at 00 and 18 UTC and more than 75% ofoccasions the heights are between 5000 and 6000 gpm
at 06 and 12 UTC. During phase 2 around 85% times
the freezing level heights are between 5000 and 6000
gpm at 00 and 18 UTC and between 5500 to 6500
gpm at 06 and 12 UTC.
5. Tropopause Heights
Figure 4 shows the mean tropopause heights forboth the phases for all 9 stations. The tropopause
heights are lower during phase 2 compared to phase 1
for 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC for stations east of 85 deg
E i.e. Calcutta, Mohanbari, Ranchi, Patna andFig. 1 List of radiosonde/radiowind stations during GEWEX IOP (15th May - 15th June and
1st July - 31st July).

Guwahati. For stations west of 85 deg E (New Delhi,
Lucknow Patiala and Gorakhpur) the tropopause
heights for 06 and 12 UTC are higher than phase 1.
After the onset of monsoon the lapse rates are nearlysaturated adiabatic.
6. Conclusions
From the discussions the following observations canbe made:a) After the onset of monsoon mean freezing level
heights for all the stations have increased. Diurnal
and longitudinal variations are also present in freezing level heights.
b) During phase 2, tropopause heights are lower thanphase 1 for stations located east of 85 deg E for all
four hours. For stations west of 85 deg E this phe-Fig. 2 Mean freezing level heights for 00, 06, 12

nomenon is observed for 06 and 12 UTC only.

and 18 UTC during phase 1 and phase 2.

Further studies on tropopause and freezing level
heights and their role in atmospheric convection are in
progress.

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GAME Letter No. 2

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Nov. 2000
Current status of GAME reanalysis

Nobuo Yam azaki1, Hirotaka Kamahori1,
Akiyo Yatagai2 and Kiyotoshi Takahashi*1
1
Meteorological Research Institute, Japan
2
Earth Observation Research Center,
National Space Development Agency
nyamazak@mri-jma.go.jp

Fig. 3 Percentage frequencies of freezing level
heights over Calcutta during phase 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 Mean tropopause heights for both the phases
for all 9 stations.

References
Das, P.K., 1986, “Monsoons”, Fifth IMO Lecture,
WMO No.613.
Rao, Y.P., 1976, “Southwest Monsoon”, Meteorological Monograph Synoptic Meteorology, No.1/
1976.

1. Introduction
GAME reanalysis project in Japan started last yearwith a joint effort of the Meteorological ResearchInstitute, Numerical Prediction Division/Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), and the Earth Observation Research Center. The Object of the GAME reanalysis is to collect off-line data during the GAMEIOP period and to obtain reanalysis of higher quality
using the most updated assimilation system and theoff-line data as well as on-line data through the GTS.
The target period is from April to October, 1998.
Most of collected off-line data shown in Table 1
are located between 25 N and 40 N in China. The
assimilation system used is almost the same as thecurrent operational JMA system: 3 dimensional optimum interpolation scheme and forecast model with
0.5625 degree horizontal resolution, 30 vertical layers and prognostic Arakawa-Schubert convective
scheme.
2. Comparison of GAME reanalysis productwith ECMWF and NCEP
Figure 1 shows 850 hPa wind fields of GAME
reanalysis (top), 850 hPa wind difference of GAME
reanalysis from ECMWF analysis (middle) and difference of NCEP analysis from ECMWF reanalysis(bottom), averaged over July 1998. Differences are
small over regions with many sonde-observation sites,
but differences are large over the Indian Ocean, where
satellite is only observational data source except very
few sonde observations. Compared with ECMWF,
the GAME reanalysis is somewhat similar to the
NCEP analysis around the Indian Ocean.

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Nov. 2000

3. Impact of four times a day sonde observation
on diurnal variation of precipitable water
Incorporation of intensive sonde observations (4times a day) during the GAME IOP is expected to
improve diurnal variations of the analyzed fields, especially in China. Impact of the off-line intensive observation was examined by comparing two reanalysis
with and without the IOP data.
Precipitable water difference between at 12 UTC(20 o’clock in Beijing Standard Time [BST]) and 00
UTC (8 BST) averaged over July 1998 with and without the IOP data was examined. No significant impact
in the difference was found, although incorporation of
the IOP data slightly enhances diurnal amplitude. Thisis probably because enough observations are alreadymade at 00 and 12 UTC. The difference at 18 UTC(2 BST) and 06 UTC (14 BST) with and without the
IOP data are seen in both the amplitude and the phase.
Regions with more precipitable water at 02 BST thanat 14 BST expand in the reanalysis with the IOP datain the eastern China.

GAME Letter No. 2

Table1 Off-line data incorporated in GAME reanalysis

Table 2 GAME reanalysis product ver.1.1 releasedin September 2000
4. Summary
GAME reanalysis product ver. 1.1 will be releasedin this September. Parameters to be released are shownin Table 2. We will distribute these data by CD-ROM(2.5-degree horizontal distribution), 8-mm tapes andInternet. Web site of game reanalysis is
http://gain-hub.mri-jma.go.jp

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GAME Letter No. 2

9Nov. 2000

GAME-AAN: Current Status and Future Plan
Michiaki Sugita1, Shin Miyazaki1,2,
Jun Asanuma1,2, and Tetsuzo Yasunari1
1
Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba
2

Fig. 1 Horizontal distribution of 850 hPa windfields of GAME reanalysis (top), 850hPa winddifference of GAME reanalysis from ECMWF
analysis (middle), and difference of NCEP
analysis from GAME reanalysis (bottom), averaged over July 1998.

Terrestrial Environment Research Center,
University of Tsukuba

The main activities of GAME-AAN in year 2000
consist of (i) maintenance/improvement of deployed
AWSs (Automatic Weather Station), (ii) on-going dataacquisition/data quality check and preparation for thedata archiving and distribution, and (iii) the planing of
future activities.
As of summer of 2000, 15 AWSs are listed as
GAME-AAN stations (see Fig. 1 and also AAN web
site at http://www.suiri.tsukuba.ac.jp/Project/aan/
aan.html). Among them, some stations have experienced technical problems for a continuous measurement. In order to remedy this and also to enhance thereliability of AWSs for a long term measurement forphase II (see below), a site visit and system improvement by a manufacturer’s engineer was carried out inthe spring of 2000. In addition, a backup data acquisition system has been implemented to some of the
AWSs.
Even though the several problems exist, each station has provided us with new interesting observations
and findings. They indicate wide variations of surface
conditions over the GAME experiment areas, whichwere expected, but were not confirmed through actual
data before. One clear result from these stations areon the role of soil wetness on the surface flux distribution and its variation through the season. Increase of
the surface soil moisture, which for some regions
comes from thawing of the frozen soil and for someregions is the results of the onset of the monsoon season, dramatically increases the latent heat fluxes while
the sensible heat fluxes decreases accordingly (see Figs.
2a and 2b from the Mongolia station, for example).
The timing at which such a change takes place is quite
different from one area to another. A mapping of such

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information over the continent, through the use ofmodels and satellite data, should clearly be the next
step to achieve our goals of the GAME-AAN project.
The data have been checked and processed forarchiving at the AAN data center. Each station has
four types of data set within the data center. They
include (i) station documentation, (ii) data set documentation, (iii) data inventory and (iv) actual data set.
At the moment, (i)-(iii) are available (see Fig. 3 forexample) and are open to the public through the AAN
web site. The actual data are distributed within the
GAME community first, and will then be open to awider scientific communities.
Besides the data archiving and station operations,
there are other on-going activities for the future of the
AAN project. One such activity is the proposal andpreparation for the phase II activity of AAN. The phase
II was originally planned to start in 2000 and was designated as the period for a long-term monitoring todetermine mean, seasonal and annual variations ofsurface variables. This has again been proposed andapproved at the GAME International Scientific Panelmeeting held in June 2000. In short, the phase II should
include such activities as the continued operation of
AWSs and the data analysis to achieve scientific objectives of GAME-AAN. Currently, 10 AAN stations
are planned to keep measurements for phase II (seeFig. 1). To enhance data analysis through discussions
and collaborations among the GAME scientists, thefirst International GAME-AAN Scientific Workshop
will be held on March 7-9 in Thailand. Presentationsof initial results from AAN data sets are expected. However, since surface flux measurements involves not
only wide ranges of science disciplines but also varieties of technological issues, presentations from outsideof GAME-AAN project, which may have different
objectives from those of AAN, are welcome for possible future collaborations and improvement of ourknowledge on these issues.

Nov. 2000

GAME Letter No. 2

Fig. 1 A map showing the location of GAME-AAN
flux stations currently in operation. Triangles
indicate those stations expected to operate
through phase II of GAME-AAN, while circles
represent those that will operate only duringphase I.

Fig. 2a An example of diurnal variation of energybalance components when the soil moisture isvery low. (Early spring, when surface soil water content is around 5 %)

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GAME Letter No. 2

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Nov. 2000
Current Status of GAIN(GAME Archive & Information Network)
Kiyotoshi Takahashi
Meteorological Research Institute, Japanktakahas@mri-jma.go.jp

Fig. 2b Same as Fig. 2a but when there is plenty ofsoil moisture. (Summer, when surface soil water content is around 16 %)Fig. 3 An example of the GAME-AAN data inventory list as seen on the AAN web site.

Nearly two years have passed since the GAME
IOP, 1998 summer. GAME data basically became
open to international research communities after June,
2000 according to the agreement in the GAME data
management although some exceptional cases still remain.
In the GAME project, main mean for data provision is the on-line access via Internet, and each subproject group has its own responsibility in data provision. So most of subgroups started to operate ftp or
web sites for data dissemination. Their functions andinformation they offered might seem to be insufficient. But such situation will be improved soon.
In the following we will introduce some topics concerning GAIN.
HUBEX group will start their data center web pagein October, 2000. In the beginning, accessing HUBEX
data will be restricted by user authentication with password. But such restriction will be loosened graduallyin the near future.
GAME-Tibet also started their web page in thisJune. You can access data obtained through GAMETibet. In IOP other observational research programs
were conducted in Tibetan region cooperatively with
GAME-Tibet. Their data will also be open internationally one more year later.
Now GAME reanalysis project is being conductedunder the cooperation of JMA/NWP, MRI, NASDA/
EORC and University of Tsukuba. Experimental version (June-July, 1998) was already released only forthe internal evaluation at the end of June, 2000. Release schedule of the formal version of reanalysis data
is as follows.
First version of the formal reanalysis product will
be released at the end of September, 2000, and then

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the second version will be released in the next spring.
Planned methods of data publication for reanalysis data
are summarized in the following table.
You can get more detailed and the latest information including URLs for sub-groups’ sites by accessing to the gain-hub (http://gain-hub.mri-jma.go.jp).

Nov. 2000

GAME Letter No. 2

Table Distribution methods of reanalysis data

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GAME Letter No. 2

Nov. 2000

CEOP as a GAME Follow-on
Toshio Koike
University of Tokyo
tkoike@hydra.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
The Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period(CEOP) from July 2001 to September 2003, which isbuilt as the foundations of the World Climate Research
Programme (WCRP)/Global Energy and Water Cycle
Experiment (GEWEX), seeks to provide an initial stepfor establishing an integrated global observing system
for the water cycle which responds to both scientificrequirements and societal needs. The connections between water and energy cycle variations are essential
for understanding the global water and energy cycle andits connection with water resources. CEOP has as its
guiding goal:"To understand and model the influence of continentalhydroclimate processes on the predictability of global
atmospheric circulation and changes in water resources,
with a particular focus on the heat source and sink regions that drive and modify the climate system andanomalies."
One of the key CEOP objectives is to make maximum use of the new generation satellites through a global-scale and comprehensive validation of the whole13

water and energy cycle. During this unique period,
various new-generation satellites are scheduled to beavailable to monitor the entire water cycle from a
local to the global scale by providing unpreceded enhancement of observing capabilities to quantify critical atmospheric, surface, hydrological and oceanographical data. Each space agency will implement
sensor calibration and algorithm/product validation
as its own responsibility. A CEOP validation task force
is currently addressing validation from the point ofview of the whole water and energy cycle.
The overall modeling objective is to advance ourcapabilities to simulate water and energy processes
and to close water and energy budgets, over land
areas and over associated ocean areas. Model transferability and predictability for water and energy fluxes
and budgets over land areas will be assessed by better understanding of the response to and the role ofland areas on the larger scale environment. A new
set of local and regional data which covers global
climate variation during coordinated period will be
provided to regional and global modeling communities to evaluate global models over many diverse climate regions in order to understand the limitationsof parameters.

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Nov. 2000

A new framework based on the cooperation between GEWEX and the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR), which is one of the other WCRP
projects, covers spatially and temporally wider climate
issues. In particular, studies of monsoonal circulations,
CLIVAR will join with efforts under GEWEX to address land-ocean-atmosphere interactions. In Asia, acoordinated research activity among the three spheres(atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere), CEOPGAME Letter No. 2

Asia-Australia Monsoon Project (CAMP), is now under planning as shown in Fig.1. The CAMP objectives
are to understand the mechanisms of the intra-seasonal to interannual variations induced by the landatmosphere-ocean interactions and to improve the accuracy of the seasonal prediction of monsoon rainfall.
A science plan will be discussed by the CAMP working group which was established at the GAME International Science Panel meeting in June, 2000.

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of CAMP (CEOP Asia-Australia Monsoon Project).

Attention!
The 5th International Study Conference on GEWEX in Asia and GAME will be held at Aichi
Trade Center, Nagoya, Japan, in 3-5 October 2001. This conference will be organized by the
GAME International Science Panel. Please notice important dates:
Deadline for the submission of abstract: 31 May, 2001, Acceptance notice: 30 June, 2001
Deadline for a paper of conference proceedings: 10 August, 2001
Deadline for the early registration: 20 August, 2001
Please visit the site, http://www.ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp/game/info/call4paper5thconf.html

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GAME Letter No. 2

Nov. 2000

Summary of the 5th GAME International
Sicence Panel Meeting
Kenji Nakamura
Institute for Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Sciences,
Nagoya University
nakamura@ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp
The Fifth GAME International Science Panel(GISP) meeting was held for 26 and 27 June, 2000 at
Seavans, Tokyo Japan with kind supports of the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA),
the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (MESSC), the Frontier Research System for Global Change (FRSGC). Participants in GISP meeting
were: one from Bangladesh, four from China, two from
India, twenty-eight from Japan, four from Korea, twofrom Malaysia, two from Mongolia, one from
Myanmar, one from Nepal, two from Russia, one fromSingapore, one from Sri Lanka, eleven from Thailand, and two participants came from USA. Thus, total participants are sixty-two (GAME-ISP members
are twenty-eight, observers/experts are thirty-four).
After the opening addresses from Prof. T. Yasunari,
Chairperson of GISP, Dr. Y. Furuhama, Executive
Director, NASDA and a congratulatory message from
Mr. K. Yoshio, MESSC, the panel discussion started.
First, current status of international activities closely
related to GAME, such as GEWEX/GAME, WCRP
and GHP were presented including an introduction of
FRSGC activity and future plan. After those, current
activities and results of each component of GAME
were reported. In addition to them, GAME-related
experiments such as KORMEX and SCSMEX, etc.
were introduced. The activity reports continued until
second day morning.
Generally speaking, each component of GAME did
not have any serious problems, and many workshops
are planned to be held, such as, GAME-HUBEX workshop in September 2000, and GAME-Siberia Workshop in March 2001. The data opening policy wasreconfirmed and data will be opened to communities

15
nearly on schedule. Data analyses of each component
are going well and several interesting results have beenshown, but we are not yet in the phase to link eachanalyzed results. Some issues have come out from theobservation. One of them is the so-called imbalance
problem in the surface flux measurement. This problem is crucial to understand the land-atmosphere interaction. Model studies and reanalysis data set including the GAME enhanced observations are essential, and they are now going on. It is, however, too
early to obtain full results from the model studies andreanalysis data set. Thus, it is recognized that themain objectives of GAME below has not yet achieved.
A) to understand the role of Asian monsoon in the
global energy and water cycle andB) to improve the simulation and seasonal predictionof Asian monsoon and regional water resources.
Future of GAME was the biggest subject of this
GISP. One big international Plan is CEOP (Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period)/CAMP (CEOP Asia
Australia Monsoon Project). CEOP is a two or threeyear project based on the well-established Earth observing satellites, such as US's Aqua, Japan's ADEOSII and French ENVISAT. Ocean component will also
be included and CLIVAR will also support CEOP.
CEOP observation will utilize the heritage of GEWEX
projects including GAME. CAMP is the Asian andAustralian part of CEOP. Everybody recognized that
CEOP is a timely project and a good one as a GAME
follow-on. However, the objective of CEOP is different from that of GAME, and it was agreed that GAME
would support a part of CEOP which relates to GAME.
As a summary, GISP considered that:
1) According to the GAME Implementation Plan, theperiod of 1996-2001 is dedicated for data collections including IOP's.
2) The GAME was/would be well conducted,
3) The objective of GAME has not yet achieved, thoughmany interesting observational results have comeout,4) CEOP which is for a study of the interannual varia-

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Nov. 2000

tions of land-atmosphere-ocean interactions undera framework of GEWEX/GHP, in corporation with
CLIVAR and CLIC has been proposed.
and, GISP recommended that:
1) GAME Phase II (2002-2003/4) should be started
in 2002 after reviewing Phase I activities. The reviewing results will be reported in the next ISP in
2001,
2) GAME Phase II should be concentrate on deeper
data analysis including modeling studies for the primary goal of GAME,
3) CEOP/CAMP working sub-committee under led
by Prof. Koike GISP should be established.
4) The progress of GAME and its future plan including the initiation of CEOP/CAMP project 20012003 should be presented in the forthcoming WMO
Regional Association II 12th session in 19th-27th
Sep., 2000 at Soul, Korea.
Other business included:
1) The Fifth International Study Conference on
GEWEX in Asia and GAME will be held in Nagoya,Japan in October 2001 along with the Sixth GAMEInternational Science Panel meeting.
2) GISP memberships at least until 2001 were reconfirmed.
3) After confirming that every member has a goodaccess to e-mail system, GISP mailing list (GAMEISP e-mail service) was decided to be made.

GAME MEETINGS SCHEDULEGAME Letter No. 2

3-5 March 2001
2001 International Workshop on GAME-T in Thailand, Phuket, Thailand. The 1st Circular will beavaliable on http://hydro.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/GAME-T
from the middle of November 2000. Contact: Dr. S.
Kanae: kanae@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
7-9 March 2001
International Workshop on GAME-AAN (Asian Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Network)/Radiation,
Phuket, Thailand. The 1st Circular is also now available at http://erc2.suiri.tsukuba.ac.jp/Project/aan/
aan.html. Contact: Dr. S. Miyazaki:
shin @erc2.suiri.tsukuba.ac.jp
15-16 March 2001
The 3rd International Workshop on Energy and Water Cycle in GAME-Siberia, Fronteir Research System for Global Change, Tokyo, Japan. Contact: Prof.
T. Ohata, ohata@pop. lowtem. hokudai.ac.jp
1-2 October 2001
The 6th GAME International Science Panel meeting,
Aichi Trade Center, Nagoya, Japan. Contact: GAMEInternational Project Office, gio@ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp
3-5 October 2001
The 5th International Study Conference on GEWEXin Asia and GAME, Aichi Trade Center, Nagoya, Japan. Contact: GAME International Project Office,gio@ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp

GAME Letter
Published by the GAME International Project OfficeProf. Kenji Nakamura, Director
Editor: Dr. Atsushi Higuchi Assistant Editor: Ms. Tomoko Tanaka
Institute for Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Sciences
Nagoya University
Furocho, Chikusaku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
Phone: +81-52-789-5439, Fax: +81-52-789-3436
E-mail: gio@ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp, URL: http://www.ihas.nagoya-u.ac.jp/game/index.html