Quintana (2012) A look to the HyMeX program

Identification

• Journal: Tethys Journal of Weather and Climate of the Western Mediterranean
• Year: 2012
• Authors: Quintana
• DOI: 10.3369/tethys.2012.9.06

Research Groups

• Ebro Observatory (URL CSIC)
• Physics Department, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB)
• GAMA, Department of Astronomy and Meteorology, Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
• AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología)
• Physical Oceanography Department, Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC)
• Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC)
• Spanish HyMeX Consortium (HyMeX.es), including over 25 research groups and institutions (e.g., IC3, IMEDEA, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, SOCIB).
• International partners (e.g., Météo France, CNES, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, University of Delft, EPFL).

Short Summary

This paper reviews the international HyMeX (Hydrological Mediterranean Experiment) program, detailing its multidisciplinary objectives concerning the Mediterranean water cycle, extreme events, and climate change adaptation. It highlights the key role and active participation of Spanish research groups in the program's design and observational campaigns, particularly the Special Observation Period 1 (SOP-1) in the Western Mediterranean.

Objective

• To improve the quantification and understanding of the water cycle in the Mediterranean, with emphasis on intense events, through observation and modeling of the coupled atmosphere-ocean-continental system.
• To assess the vulnerability of society and the economic system to hydrometeorological extreme events (floods and droughts) and define adaptation strategies for climate change.
• To detail the implementation strategy of HyMeX, including the observational campaigns (SOP-1), and outline the specific contributions and strategic importance of Spanish research groups to the program.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Mediterranean basin (entire region), Western Mediterranean (primary target area for SOP-1), regional basins (e.g., Ebro, Rhone), and small super-zones (1 to 10 $\text{km}^2$) for process studies.
• Temporal Scale: Multi-scale approach: Long-term Observation Period (LOP, 10 years, starting 2010), Enhanced Observation Periods (EOP, 4 years, 2011–2015), and Special Observation Periods (SOP, lasting a few months, e.g., SOP-1 in Autumn 2012). Climate projections extend over the next century.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Regional Climate Models (AORCM), high-resolution nonhydrostatic research models (mesoscale), ensemble modeling systems, distributed hydrological models (e.g., SAFRAN-ISBA-MODCOU), and SVAT-type models (soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer).
• Data sources:
  • Observation Networks: Long-term operational observations (LOP), intensified operational systems (EOP), and dedicated resources (SOP).
  • Atmospheric: Instrumented research aircraft (ATR42, Falcon F20) for in-situ measurements (P, T, U, wind, microphysics, lidar), mobile radar, radiosounding networks (AEMET, SMC) utilizing Data Targeting System (DTS) philosophy, constant-level balloons, water vapor and aerosol lidar, surface automatic stations (rain, humidity, temperature, wind), and electric shock networks.
  • Oceanic/Hydrological: Marine gliders (SOCIB) measuring temperature, conductivity, pressure, fluorescence, and dissolved oxygen; buoys and anchors in the Gulf of Lion; SMOS satellite observations for soil moisture and ocean salinity.

Main Results

• The HyMeX program is structured around five core research areas: Mediterranean water balance (E-P-R), continental hydrological cycle, intense precipitation and flooding, intense sea-atmosphere interactions, and social vulnerability/resilience.
• The implementation strategy is defined by three observation levels (LOP, EOP, SOP) and a comprehensive modeling strategy focused on improving coupled models and high-resolution prediction systems.
• SOP-1 (Autumn 2012) focused on the Western Mediterranean, deploying extraordinary resources to sample heavy rainfall events (targeting $>100$ $\text{mm day}^{-1}$) and precursor conditions, with coordination centered at Montpellier (HOC) and a secondary center in Palma.
• Spain is a key platform for HyMeX, contributing observation data from the Balearic Islands and the Iberian Peninsula's east coast, and participating in modeling efforts, such as the implementation of a distributed hydrological model for the Ebro basin at 5 $\text{km}$ resolution to study water balance and climate change impacts.
• The program aims to create the HyMeX Database, serving as the cornerstone for Mediterranean atmospheric research for the subsequent decade.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed, timely synthesis of the HyMeX program's scientific plan and implementation strategy, serving as a reference for the Spanish scientific community.
• Highlights the critical importance of the Mediterranean coupled system (atmosphere-ocean-land) approach for understanding and predicting extreme hydrometeorological events.
• Documents the extensive, coordinated deployment of international and national observational resources (SOP-1), including advanced airborne and marine instrumentation, setting a precedent for future Mediterranean field campaigns.
• Establishes the framework for concerted Spanish research actions (HyMeX.es), ensuring national research priorities (e.g., Ebro basin hydrology, flood risk assessment) are integrated into the international agenda.

Funding

• Endorsed by WMO (World Meteorological Organization), WWRP-THORPEX, WCRP-GEWEX, and Med-CORDEX.
• EUMETNET/EUCOS (European network of meteorological services) financed and provided technical support for the Data Targeting System (DTS) component of the SOP-1 campaign.
• The research activities are supported by various national projects and programs within the participating Spanish institutions (not explicitly listed with reference codes in the text).

Citation

@article{Quintana2012look,
  author = {Quintana},
  title = {A look to the HyMeX program},
  journal = {Tethys Journal of Weather and Climate of the Western Mediterranean},
  year = {2012},
  doi = {10.3369/tethys.2012.9.06},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3369/tethys.2012.9.06}
}

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