Peugeot Christophe auteur aut IRD Guichard F. auteur aut IRD Bock O. auteur aut IRD Bouniol D. auteur aut IRD Chong M. auteur aut IRD Boone A. auteur aut IRD Cappelaere Bernard auteur aut IRD Gosset Marielle auteur aut IRD Besson L. auteur aut IRD Lemaitre Y. auteur aut IRD Séguis Luc auteur aut IRD Zannou A. auteur aut IRD Galle Sylvie auteur aut IRD Redelsperger J.L. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access We review the main studies on mesoscale water cycle from the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) project. The estimations of precipitation and evapotranspiration, which are the coupling terms between the atmosphere and the surface water cycles, are addressed. Advances in the evaluation of the various components of atmospheric and surface water budgets are reported, and the yearly surface budgets for the Benin and Niger AMMA mesoscale sites are given as examples. The major outcomes and limitations of atmosphere-surface model coupling exercises are also reported. The paper concludes with suggestions on the research directions on which the community should make future efforts. specialized mesoscale water cycle water budget atmosphere land surface 021 062 072 12 1 45-50 2011 1530-261X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053183 10.1002/asl.309 1530-261X [F B010053183] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053183 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers18-11/010053183.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2011-04-07 2018-12-10 fdi:010053183 fre