On the characteristics of heavy precipitation systems observed by Meteosat-6 during the MAP-SOP

During the ßeld phase of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) in autumn 1999 the standby satellite Meteosat-6 performed rapid scans of a region centred over the Alpine area. The present study focuses on the investigation of heavy preeipitation Systems on the southern side of the Alps (Ticino) and analyses their characteristics on the synoptic and meso-ß scale.