HR: 15:25h
AN: H53J-08    [Abstracts]
TI: The hydrometeorology of a deforested region of the Amazon
AU: * Avissar, R
EM: avissar@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708-0287 United States
AU: Ramos da Silva, R
EM: renato@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708-0287 United States
AB: A series of numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the capability of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) to simulate the evolution of convection in a region with complex terrain and partial deforestation of the Amazon basin during the rainy season, and to elucidate the land-atmosphere interactions taking place there. Overall, we demonstrate that RAMS can simulate properly the domain-average accumulated rainfall in Rond“nia when provided with reliable initial profiles of atmospheric relative humidity and soil moisture. It is also capable of simulating important feedbacks involving the energy partition at the ground surface and the formation of convection. Sensitivity experiments show that while higher atmospheric relative humidity leads to early rainfall, higher soil moisture delays its formation. The low relative humidity experiments produce less rainfall accumulation and precipitation tends to occur mostly on the lee side of the mountains. Dry soils produce early convection and induce rainfall in the hills where thermals are better organized by the dynamical effects of topography. We show that RAMS can be a useful tool to simulate the various hydrometeorological processes taking place in this region, which plays a key role in the global hydrometeorology.
DE: 1631 Land/atmosphere interactions (1218, 1843, 3322)
DE: 1637 Regional climate change
DE: 1655 Water cycles (1836)
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005