Insights of meso and micro-scale processes for the Caxiuanã forest region from high resolution simulation

Abstract

Meteorological data and high resolution numerical simulations were used to estimate spatial fields in eastern Amazonia where is located the Forest and the Bay of Caxiuanã. The study were performed for the period of November 2006, when occurred the field experiment COBRA-PARA. Analysis of the MODIS sensor from the Terra Satellite images show the occurrence of various phenomena such as local cloud streets, precipitating convective systems and an important influence of the interfaces between the forest and water surfaces. Numerical simulations for November 7, 2006 showed that the model represented well the major meteorological processes. The results show that the Caxiuanã Bay causes significant impact on adjacent meteorological fields mainly through advection by the northeast winds that induce to colder canopy temperature to the west of the bay and convective rainfall. Simulations with high resolution (LES) produced spatial patterns of temperature and humidity aligned with the winds during the daytime, and at nighttime the patterns are influenced mainly by the presence of the bay. Correlations between the mid-level winds and the latent heat fluxes showed that there is a change from negative correlations for the early hours to positive correlations for the afternoon and early evening. Os resultados mostram que a Baía de Caxiuanã provoca importante impacto nos campos meteorológicos adjacentes, principalmente, através da advecção pelos ventos de nordeste que induzem a temperaturas do dossel mais frias a oeste da baía. Simulações de alta resolução (LES) produziram padrões espaciais de temperatura e umidade alinhados com os ventos durante o período diurno e mudanças noturnas causadas principalmente pela presença da baía e chuvas convectivas. Correlações espaciais entre os ventos de níveis médios e os fluxos verticais de calor latente mostraram que existe uma mudança de correlações negativas para as primeiras horas do dia passando para correlações positivas para o período da tarde e início da noite. Palavras-chave: Caxiuanã, BRAMS, LES, circulações locais 254 Renata Leitão da Conceição Mesquita e Renato Ramos da Silva Volume 27(2)