South Asian Regional Reanalysis (SARR)

A retrospective analysis (reanalysis) of circulation and thermodynamic fields over South Asia will be developed to advance characterization, understanding, modeling, and prediction of monsoon climate variability and change over this vastly populated subcontinent of complex orography, land-surface types, and land-ocean boundaries. Interest in regional hydroclimate (precipitation, surface temperature, soil moisture, stream flow, drought indices, etc.) is intense and growing, given the direct societal impacts.

Through additional assimilation of precipitation, radiance, and aerosol observations in numerical weather prediction models, the South Asian Regional Reanalysis project will generate refined description of the regional hydroclimate state; a description unattainable from canonical assimilation of circulation and temperature data as model forecasts of precipitation remain inaccurate. The SARR project will thus provide an atmosphere-land-surface state description where consistency between circulation and hydroclimate components is assured.

The South Asian Regional Reanalysis project will exploit the high spatio-temporal resolution of satellite observations; generate unique synthesis of conventional and remotely sensed data using state-of-the-art atmosphere/land-surface models while being mindful of regional water and energy budgets; develop comprehensive summer and winter monsoon phenomenologies from closer interaction of the modeling and observational communities; provide a framework for diagnosing the influence of regional anthropogenic aerosols/pollutants on circulation and hydroclimate; permit a more rigorous analysis of water resource management and agricultural practices; and above all, forge stronger links between climate programs of South Asian countries.