The DOMinica EXperiment:
Orographic Precipitation in the Tropics
The mountainous island of Dominica has been selected as the location for a research project on the generation of convective clouds and precipitation in the tropics. The Dominica Experiment (DOMEX) started in March of 2007, but attention is now focused on the intensive field phase in April/May 2011. During this phase, a research aircraft will be profiling the upstream conditions east of the island and penetrating clouds over the island. The principal investigator of DOMEX is Professor Ronald B. Smith from Yale University, with support from the USA National Science Foundation. Participating institutions include: Dominica Division of Forestry, MeteoFrance DIRAG, University of Reading and the University of Wyoming.
Project goals:
- To understand the physics of mountain triggered convection and precipitation in the tropics, using Dominica as a natural laboratory
- To develop data sets that can be used to test and improve numerical models of convection and precipitation in the tropics
- To better understand and predict the weather and climate of the Lesser Antilles including Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique
Rosalie Bay Resort will be the Eastern location for live-feed cameras that will assist in the project by sending data 24-7 to the research center.