Canadian Atlantic Storms Program: Progress and Plans of the Meteorological Component

Abstract

The Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP) field project was conducted from 15 January to 15 March 1986 over Atlantic Canada in conjunction with the American Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE). The goals of CASP were to begin the process of understanding and eventually better predicting the mesoscale structure of East Coast storms as well as the storms themselves. Conceptual models of the storms have been formulated, the nature of cyclogenesis and the structure of frontal surfaces have been investigated, and precipitation regions and precipitation type transitions have been studied. Numerical weather simulations have been used to better understand critical parameters affecting storm behavior and improvements in instrumentation have been made. Future research activities are needed to better understand the interaction of the storms with surface features such as coastlines and sea ice.