The Global Atmospheric Research Program: 1979–1982

Abstract

In this report we discuss the activities of the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) during 1979–1982. We continue a tradition established eight years ago when Perry (1975) described the scientific framework, management structure and field programs of GARP in the U.S. National Report for 1971–1974. Perry and O'Neill (1979) followed with a description of the major GARP activities for 1975–1978; they considered the GARP field programs planned for late 1978 and beyond while Greenfield and Fein (1979) discussed research highlights of the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE), the first major GARP field program which was completed in 1974. The period 1979–1982 was one of extraordinary activity. Several major field programs were completed: the Global Weather Experiment (also known as FGGE, the First GARP Global Experiment) with its regional subprograms, the Monsoon Experiment (MONEX) and the West African Monsoon Experiment (WAMEX), and the last of the GARP field programs, the Alpine Experiment (ALPEX). We describe these experiments and report some of the preliminary results; we also summarize the GATE research results for the last four years.

Global Change: From Rhetoric to Reality

“…For the most part, these programs focused on one or another component of our complex planet and primarily involved the scientific disciplines specialized to address that component. For example, the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) [Perry, 1975; Perry and O'Neill, 1979; Fein et al, 1983] addressed the large‐scale circulation of the atmosphere, and involved principally meteorologists and oceanographers. These programs not only advanced our understanding of the processes involved, but also demonstrated the power of modern observing technology, particularly satellites.…”