@article{fdi:010048234,
  title = {{T}he {AMMA}-{CATCH} {G}ourma observatory site in {M}ali : relating climatic variations to changes in vegetation, surface hydrology, fluxes and natural resources},
  author = {{M}ougin, {E}ric and {H}iernaux, {P}. and {K}ergoat, {L}. and {G}rippa, {M}. and {R}osnay de, {P}. and {T}imouk, {F}ranck and {L}e {D}antec, {V}. and {D}emarez, {V}. and {L}avenu, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {A}rjounin, {M}arc and {L}ebel, {T}hierry and {S}oumaguel, {N}ogmana and {C}eschia, {E}. and {M}ougenot, {B}ernard and {B}aup, {F}. and {F}rappart, {F}. and {F}rison, {P}. {L}. and {G}ardelle, {J}. and {G}ruhier, {C}. and {J}arlan, {L}ionel and {M}angiarotti, {S}. and {S}anou, {B}. and {T}racol, {Y}. and {G}uichard, {F}. and {T}richon, {V}. and {D}iarra, {L}. and {S}oumar{\'e}, {A}. and {K}oite, {M}. and {D}emb{\'e}l{\'e}, {F}. and {L}loyd, {C}. and {H}anan, {N}. {P}. and {D}amesin, {C}. and {D}elon, {C}. and {S}erca, {D}. and {G}aly-{L}acaux, {C}. and {S}eghieri, {J}osiane and {B}ecerra, {S}. and {D}ia, {H}. and {G}angneron, {F}. and {M}azzega, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {G}ourma site in {M}ali is one of the three instrumented meso-scale sites deployed in {W}est-{A}frica as part of the {A}frican {M}onsoon {M}ulti-disciplinary {A}nalysis ({AMMA}) project. {L}ocated both in the {S}ahelian zone sensu stricto, and in the {S}aharo-{S}ahelian transition zone, the {G}ourma meso-scale window is the northernmost site of the {AMMA}-{CATCH} observatory reached by the {W}est {A}frican {M}onsoon. {T}he experimental strategy includes deployment of a variety of instruments, from local to meso-scale, dedicated to monitoring and documentation of the major variables characterizing the climate forcing, and the spatio-temporal variability of surface processes and state variables such as vegetation mass, leaf area index ({LAI}), soil moisture and surface fluxes. {T}his paper describes the {G}ourma site, its associated instrumental network and the research activities that have been carried out since 1984. {I}n the {AMMA} project, emphasis is put on the relations between climate, vegetation and surface fluxes. {H}owever, the {G}ourma site is also important for development and validation of satellite products, mainly due to the existence of large and relatively homogeneous surfaces. {T}he social dimension of the water resource uses and governance is also briefly analyzed, relying on field enquiry and interviews. {T}he climate of the {G}ourma region is semi-arid, daytime air temperatures are always high and annual rainfall amounts exhibit strong inter-annual and seasonal variations. {M}easurements sites organized along a north-south transect reveal sharp gradients in surface albedo, net radiation, vegetation production, and distribution of plant functional types. {H}owever, at any point along the gradient, surface energy budget, soil moisture and vegetation growth contrast between two main types of soil surfaces and hydrologic systems. {O}n the one hand, sandy soils with high water infiltration rates and limited run-off support almost continuous herbaceous vegetation with scattered woody plants. {O}n the other hand, water infiltration is poor on shallow soils, and vegetation is sparse and discontinuous, with more concentrated run-off that ends in pools or low lands within structured endorheic watersheds. {L}and surface in the {G}ourma is characterized by rapid response to climate variability, strong intra-seasonal, seasonal and inter-annual variations in vegetation growth, soil moisture and energy balance. {D}espite the multi-decadal drought, which still persists, ponds and lakes have increased, the grass cover has largely recovered, and there are signs of increased tree cover at least in the low lands.},
  keywords = {{S}ahel ; {AMMA} ; {M}ali ; {G}ourma ; {V}egetation ; {R}ainfall},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {H}ydrology},
  volume = {375},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {14--33},
  ISSN = {0022-1694},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.06.045},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010048234},
}