HR: 1400h
AN: H53C-03    [Abstracts]
TI: The Structure and Summer Intensification of the Caribbean Low-Level Jet
AU: * Munoz, E
EM: emunoz@essic.umd.edu
AF: Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland 2207 Computer and Space Sciences Bldg, College Park, MD 20742-2465, United States
AU: Busalacchi, A
EM: tonyb@essic.umd.edu
AF: Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland 2207 Computer and Space Sciences Bldg, College Park, MD 20742-2465, United States
AU: Nigam, S
EM: nigam@atmos.umd.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AU: Ruiz-Barradas, A
EM: alfredo@atmos.umd.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AB: The Caribbean region shows maxima in easterly winds greater than 12 m/s at 925 hPa in July and February. These maxima in February and July are referred to as the winter and summer Caribbean Low-Level Jet (LLJ), respectively. The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanisms of the Caribbean LLJ formation. Another objective is to identify the influence of the Caribbean LLJ on the hydroclimate of the Intra-Americas Sea region and on the Mid-Summer Drought. Climatological fields are calculated from the North American Regional Reanalysis and the ECMWF 40-Year Reanalysis. In February and July the Caribbean LLJ is a regional amplification of the large-scale circulation. High mountains to the south of the Caribbean Sea influence the air temperature meridional gradient providing a baroclinic structure that favors a stronger easterly flow. The boreal summer strengthening of the Caribbean LLJ responds to subsidence over the subtropical North Atlantic from the May-to- July northward shift of the Atlantic Marine ITCZ and to the east-west gradient of diabatic heating along the Caribbean Sea.
DE: 1807 Climate impacts
DE: 1812 Drought
DE: 1840 Hydrometeorology
DE: 1843 Land/atmosphere interactions (1218, 1631, 3322)
DE: 1854 Precipitation (3354)
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly