@article{PAR00012578,
  title = {{A}nalysis of strengthening and dissipating mesoscale convective systems propagating off the {W}est {A}frican {C}oast},
  author = {{D}ieng, {A}. {L}. and {E}ymard, {L}aurence and {S}all, {S}. {M}. and {L}azar, {A}. and {L}educ-{L}eballeur, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A} large number of {A}tlantic tropical depressions are generated in the eastern basin in relation to the {A}frican easterly wave ({AEW}) and embedded mesoscale convective systems ({MCS}s) coming from the {A}frican continent. {I}n this paper, the structures of strengthening and dissipating {MCS}s evolving near the {W}est {A}frican coast are analyzed, including the role of the ocean surface conditions in their evolution. {S}atellite infrared brightness temperature and meteorological radar data over seven summer seasons between 1993 and 2006 are used to subjectively select 20 cases of strengthening and dissipating {MCS}s in the vicinity of the {S}enegal coast. {W}ith these observed {MCS}s, a lagged composite analysis is then performed using {I}nterim {ECMWF} {R}e-{A}nalysis ({ERA}-{I}nterim) and {C}limate {F}orecast {S}ystem {R}eanalysis ({CFSR}). {I}t is shown that the strengthening {MCS} is generally preceded by prior passage of an {AEW} near the {W}est {A}frican coast. {T}his previous wave trough is associated with a convective cyclonic circulation in the low and middle troposphere, which enhances the southwesterly flow and then provides humidity to the strengthening {MCS}, located in the vicinity of the subsequent {AEW} trough. {T}his is favored by the contraction of the wavelength associated with the two troughs. {T}he sea surface contributes to the {MCS} enhancement through surface evaporation flux. {B}ut this contribution is found to be less important than advection of humidity from the previous wave trough. {T}hese conditions are almost not found in the dissipating {MCS} cases, which dissipate in a dry environment dominated by a subsident and anticyclonic circulation, with generally no interaction with a previous wave trough.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST} ; {SENEGAL} ; {ATLANTIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}onthly {W}eather {R}eview},
  volume = {142},
  numero = {12},
  pages = {4600--4623},
  ISSN = {0027-0644},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1175/mwr-d-13-00388.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00012578},
}