Some aspects of the WRF model must be further tested and analyzed to improve the prediction during the rainy period, especially the parameterizations of cumulus and clouds microphysics. The obtained statistical indexes were equivalent or better, in some cases, if compared to other similar studies, indicating that the WRF is a good tool for wind forecasting.

Ozone and inhalable particulate matter are the major air pollutants in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, Brazil, a region that has more than 19 million inhabitants and approximately 7 million registered vehicles. Proximity of roadways, adjacent land use, and local circulation are just some of the factors that can affect the results of monitoring of pollutant concentrations. The so-called weekend effect (higher ozone concentrations on weekends than on weekdays) might be related to the fact that concentrations of ozone precursors, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Non Methane-Hydrocarbon (NMHC), are relatively lower on weekends. This phenomenon has been reported in some areas of the United States since the 1970s. The differences between the concentrations of ozone in period of weekend and weekday, were obtained from analysis of data hourly average of CETESB for 2004, studied the precursors to the formation of troposphere ozone, the meteorological variables and traffic profile for RMSP. Because of the proximity to sources of emissions from the station Pinheiros showed higher concentrations of NO and NO 2 and greater variations to the periods weekend and weekday. With fewer vehicles circulating during the weekend, and consequently less emission of pollutants, it has cleaner air and less concentration of NO and NO 2 , there is the ideal setting to the formation of troposphere ozone, despite the lower concentration of NO 2 . The proximity with the source emissions, aided by the increased availability of solar radiation and the presence of ozone precursors, were factors conditions for the occurrence of weekend effect. Keywords: Ozone formation, ozone weekend effect. RESUMO: DIFERENÇA DE CONCENTRAÇÕES DE OZÔNIO, NOX E HIDROCARBONETOS NÃO METANO DURANTE PERÍODO DA SEMANA E FINAIS DE SEMANA, NA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE SÃO PAULO.O ozônio e o material particulado inalável são os mais importantes poluentes do ar na região metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). Esta região possui em torno de 19 milhões de habitantes e aproximadamente 7 milhões de veículos registrados. O efeito final de semana sobre a concentração de ozônio, caracterizado por concentrações ozônio mais elevadas no fim de semana quando comparadas aos dias de semana, pode está relacionado às concentrações relativamente baixas dos precursores do ozônio tais como o óxido de nitrogênio (NOx) e os Hidrocarbonetos Não Metano (NMHC) nos finais de semana. As diferenças existentes entre as concentrações de ozônio nos períodos de fim de semana e dias da semana, foram obtidas a partir de analises médias dos dados horários da CETESB para o ano de 2004, foram estudados os precursores para a formação do ozônio troposférico, as variáveis meteorológicas e o perfil horário do trafego veicular para a RMSP. Devido a proximidade com as fontes de emissão a estação de Pinheiros apresentou maiores concentrações de NO e NO 2 e maiores variações na concentração na comparação feita aos períodos. Com menos veículos circulando durante o período de final de semana e conseqüentemente m...

The wind potential in the Agreste region of Northeastern Brazil has important features for energy exploration, but, stills unexplored. This work analyzes 3.1 yrs anemometer tower measurements in the Girau do Ponciano, Alagoas state. The observational data was recorded from October 2007 to October 2010. Three periods were defined to constrain the seasonal wind patterns: Annual, Dry (October-January) and Wet (May-August). Hourly and monthly series showed the average wind speed was higher than 7 m s-1, reaching 8.5 m s-1 during the dry season. Further, the wind direction was also favorable with less variability, concentrated between NE and SE. During nighttime the wind speed ≥ 10 m s-1 were more frequent. The Weibull fit is more distributed (concentrated) during the dry (wet) season close to 8 m s-1 (7 m s-1). The AEP (Cf) parameter estimated by the WAsP model varied between 3 to 10 GWh (35% to 65%). Nevertheless, Girau do Ponciano domain was positioned nearby two highways and close to an electrical substation in the Arapiraca city. Other geographic conditions (topography inclination < 15°, the absence of obstacles, and low vegetation) are also favorable to future wind farm installation in this area.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é melhorar a previsão da velocidade do vento usando o modelo atmosférico de mesoescala Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) e Rede Neural Artificial (RNA) não linear auto regressiva com entrada externa (NARX), sem entrada externa (NAR). A acurácia dos prognósticos foi aferida com dados observados (OBS) mensurados a cada 10 min, em uma torre anemométrica de 50 m de altura, localizada em Craíbas região Agreste de Alagoas. A estatística univariada indicou que os prognósticos representaram bem a evolução temporal do vento no período estudado (abril de 2015). As velocidades médias, máximas e mínimas de OBS foram de 5,26 m.s−1, 12,29 m.s−1 e 0,01 m.s−1, nesta mesma sequência, os prognósticos variaram entre (5,18 m.s−1 a 5,41 m.s−1), (11,58 m.s−1 a 13,92 m.s−1) e (0,01 m.s−1 a 0,36 m.s−1). Na análise bivariada as métricas estatísticas utilizadas para averiguar a acurácia das previsões resultaram no seguinte: Desvio médio (-0,31 a 0,04 m.s−1); Raiz do desvio quadrático médio (1,14 a 1,27 m.s−1); Desvio percentual absoluto médio (22 a 23%); E coeficiente de correlação (0,63 a 0,72). Esses resultados, apesar de considerar um período curto de dados, indicam o potencial de aplicação da RNA e WRF na previsão da velocidade do vento.

ABSTRACT. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) mixing ratios were continuously measured at a pasture site (Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida) near Ouro Preto D'Oeste/RO during the period 15 April to 21 May 1999. This period corresponds to the transition between the wet to the dry season in this region. Photosynthesis by the vegetation of the pasture is the main sink for atmospheric CO 2 during daylight. During nighttime soil and plant respiration are a source for atmospheric CO 2 . Our results show a marked diurnal cycle of mean CO 2 mixing ratios. Mean mixing ratios above 500 ppmv are reached between 23:00 and 6:00 local time with a maximum of 533 ± 106 ppmv around 02:00 Values stay well below 400 ppmv between 9:00 and 17:00 and reach a minimum of 367 ± 8 ppmv around 15:00. Individual measurements performed during nights with low wind speeds especially show elevated CO 2 mixing ratios which might reach up to 800 ppmv.Keywords: CO 2 concentration, pasture, Amazonia.RESUMO. Medidas de concentração de dióxido de carbono (CO 2 ) foram realizadas em umaárea de pastagem no município de Ouro Preto do Oeste/RO (Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida), no período de 15/04 -21/05/1999, período característico na região como sendo de transição entre a estação chuvosa para a seca. O período diurnoé o principal responsável pelo consumo de CO 2 devidoà realização da fotossíntese pelas plantas, enquanto no período noturno a respiração das plantas e dos microorganismos vivos responsáveis pela decomposição da matéria morta, liberam CO 2 para atmosfera. As concentrações de CO 2 tiveram valores acima de 500 ppmv entre 23:00 e 06:00 horas com um máximo de 533 ±106 ppmv aproximadamenteàs 02:00 horas, como também apresentaram valores mínimos abaixo de 400 ppmv entre 9:00 e 17:00 horas com mínimo de 367 ± 8 ppmv aproximadamenteàs 15:00 horas. Foram feitas várias comparações entre a concentração de CO 2 e algumas variáveis meteorológicas na busca de explicações para o ciclo diário da concentração de CO 2 , onde existe uma relação entre e a baixa velocidade do vento noturno e a concentração de CO 2 que alcança valores superiores a 800 ppmv.Palavras-chave: Concentração de CO 2 atmosférico, pastagem, Amazônia.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of the WRF model for estimate wind speed in the central region of Alagoas State (Brazil). The wind velocity (WRF outputs) were compared with anemometric data of the PVPN projetc (Previsão do Vento em Parques Eólicos no Nordeste Brasileiro “Wind forecast for wind farms in the Brazilian Northeast”), from January to December 2014. The results showed that the WRF model estimated very well the monthly and daily wind speed averages. Deviations are greater in the dry season. Throughout the year the mean difference (WRF-OBS) was only 0.23 m.s-1 (6.14 m.s-1 versus 5.91 m.s-1), showing that this model is a good tool for forecasting wind for wind farms.

Este trabalho buscou realizar um estudo de caso da variação da temperatura do solo (TS) em dois biomas florestais, floresta amazônica e mata atlântica, para um mês considerado chuvoso e outro seco. Para a área da floresta amazônica, foram utilizados dados da torre K34 do grupo de micrometeorológica do LBA-INPA, localizada na Reserva Biológica do Cuieiras, e analisando os perfis de temperatura do solo através de sensores MCM 101 (IMAG-DLO, Wageningen The Netherlands) nas profundidades 2, 5, 10, 20 e 50 cm, para o mês de abril (chuvoso) e setembro (seco) de 2009. Na área de mata atlântica os dados foram obtidos através de uma torre micrometeorológica de 26 m de altura localizada na cidade de Coruripe-AL, e analisando os perfis de temperatura do solo através de termopares tipo cobre/constantan nas profundidades 1, 5, 10, 20, e 50 cm, para o mês de junho (chuvoso) e novembro (seco) de 2009. Observou-se que a variabilidade TS dentro da floresta amazônica apresenta pouca oscilações diária, tanto para o período seco (4 ºC), quanto para o chuvoso (1,2 ºC). Enquanto que a mata atlântica mostrou variabilidade distinta entre os períodos, o período seco obteve máxima amplitude (18 °C) e o período chuvoso teve pouca variação (1 °C). A B S T R A C T This work sought to accomplish case study of the variation of soil temperature (TS) in two forest biomes, Amazon rainforest and Atlantic forest for a month under consideration rainy and a dry. For the area of the Amazon rainforest, we used data from the K34 tower of the group of micrometeorological LBA-INPA, located in the Biological Reserve Cuieiras and analyzing the profiles of soil temperature sensors through 101 MCM (IMAG-DLO, Wageningen The Netherlands ) in the depths of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cm, for the month of April (rainy) and September (dry) 2009. In the area of Atlantic forest the data were obtained through a micrometeorological tower 26 m high located in the city of Coruripe-AL, and analyzing the profiles of soil temperature using thermocouples type copper / constantan in the depths of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cm for the month of June (rainy) and November (dry) 2009. It was observed that TS variability within the Amazon rainforest has little daily oscillations for both the dry period (4 °C), and for the rainy period (1,2 °C). While the Atlantic forest showed distinct variability between periods, the dry obtained maximum amplitude (18 °C) and rainy had little variation (1 °C). Keywords: micrometeorology, thermal conductivity, tropical forest

Studying solar radiation is essential for human knowledge, since it is present in practically all its activities. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze the climatic and seasonal variation of direct normal and global solar radiation in the region of Maceió, Alagoas State, Northeastern Brazil with sky conditions characterized by clearness index (Kt). The Kt was determined by the ratio between global solar irradiance and solar irradiance at the top of the atmosphere. The highest occurrences of daily direct normal solar irradiance under conditions of Kt ≥ 0.6 were recorded between 400 W m−2 and 700 W m−2 for all seasons. Under conditions of 0.4 ≤ Kt < 0.6, the daily direct normal solar irradiance occurred between 200 W m−2 and 500 W m−2 and for conditions of Kt < 0.4, its maximum value was 200 W m−2. It was observed that the levels of solar incidence in the study region depend on cloud cover conditions, with little influence of seasonality.