The Caribbean Basin: A Climatological Study

Walters, Kenneth R.; Korik, Andrew G.; Vojtesak, Michael J.

doi:10.21236/ada222267

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…D200 exhibits stronger effects on the area, solidity and dispersion over the western study regions, especially the Gulf of Mexico. A possible reason is that during hurricane season, upper‐tropospheric features, such as the Mexican Anticyclone and Tropical Upper‐Tropospheric Trough (TUTT), are located over Central America (Kimball & Mulekar, 2004; Walters et al, 1989). Storms over the Gulf that are weaker are more susceptible to being altered by upper‐level systems (e.g., Tropical Storm Arlene in 2011) (Beven, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing environmental conditions associated with spatially varying rainfall structure of North Atlantic tropical cyclones: An object‐based climatological analysis

Zhou

Zhu

Matyas

et al. 2023

Intl Journal of Climatology

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This study utilizes geographic information system‐based shape analyses with spatial regressions to examine the spatial variations in the relationships between North Atlantic TC rain field patterns and the environmental conditions. We measure the area, solidity, dispersion and closure of rain fields associated with North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) during 1998–2014 from satellite‐based rain rate estimates. The potential contributing factors examined include storm intensity, translational speed, sea surface temperature, total precipitable water, upper‐tropospheric divergence, deep‐layer vertical wind shear and distance to land. Spatial metrics of rainfall, TC attributes and environmental conditions are aggregated onto a hexagon grid, and the average values are used in regression models. Spatial autoregressive regression and geographically weighted regression are applied to investigate the relationships between contributing factors and rainfall patterns. Storm intensity is positively correlated with area, solidity and closure and negatively correlated with dispersion. Higher moisture and larger upper‐level divergence contribute to a larger rainfall field with a more dispersed and less solid pattern, especially over the western Gulf and the western Caribbean. Wind shear and storm motion affect rain field patterns differently depending on the juxtaposition and relative magnitude of storm motion and wind shear vectors and thus exhibit more regional variations. This research further highlights the importance of incorporating a spatial component into the research on TC rainfall climatology. An improved understanding of basin‐wide and sub‐basin‐wide relationships between TC rain fields and contributing factors would benefit rainfall forecasting and hazard mitigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing environmental conditions associated with spatially varying rainfall structure of North Atlantic tropical cyclones: An object‐based climatological analysis

Zhou

Zhu

Matyas

et al. 2023

Intl Journal of Climatology

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“…A mid‐summer drought (regionally named canícula ) occurs during July–August as a phenomenon in the Yucatan Plains and the Caribbean in which high‐pressure systems inhibit the formation of clouds, leading to decreased precipitation and increased solar radiation and temperature (Corrales‐Suastegui et al 2019; Magaña et al, 1999). From October to February, the region and the study area are under the influence of cold fronts with northerly wind directions (Mooers & Maul, 1998), leading to the locally known nortes season (NoS) (Carrillo et al, 2009b), which develops as a transition between the dry and rainy seasons (Walters et al, 1989).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and seasonal variations in surface water temperature and salinity in the Mexico‐Belize riverine estuary: Possible comfort conditions for manatees?

Callejas-Jiménez

Alcérreca‐Huerta

Morales‐Vela

et al. 2021

Marine Mammal Science

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The Mexican Caribbean and Belize are home to one of the largest populations of Caribbean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus). However, the transboundary Hondo River estuary is less examined compared to the surrounding protected areas. This paper provides a quantitative description of the spatial and temporal variability in abiotic factors and manatee distribution throughout the Hondo River estuary, with monthly field measurements during 2018–2019. Simultaneously, visual observations and side‐scan sonar detection were implemented, with 84 manatee sightings reported (calves 11.9%, noncalves 88.1%). Heatmap and frequency analyses showed that most manatee sightings occurred at the riverine estuary limit, the confluences between the river and the bay into which it flows. The surface water temperature and salinity ranged 28°C ≤ T ≤ 32°C and 0.5 PSU ≤ S ≤ 4.5 PSU for ~72% of the manatees identified, potentially describing locally preferred conditions for manatees. During the regional mid‐summer drought, higher temperature (31.5°C), salinity (18 PSU), and estuary extent (17.6 km) were recorded, including the maximum peak of manatee sightings (~31%). The roles of these abiotic factors are discussed as tentative environmental comfort conditions for manatees that could reduce their energy and maintenance costs. The identification of preferred conditions could broaden perspectives on how manatees interact with their habitats.

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The Orinoco Low‐Level Jet: An Investigation of Its Characteristics and Evolution Using the WRF Model

et al. 2019

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The structure and evolution of the low‐level jet over the Orinoco River basin is characterized using finer horizontal, vertical, and temporal resolution than possible in previous studies via dynamical downscaling. The investigation relies on a 5‐month‐long simulation (November 2013 to March 2014) performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting model, with initial and boundary conditions provided by the Global Forecast System analysis. Dynamical downscaling is demonstrated to be an effective method to better resolve the horizontal and vertical characteristics of the Orinoco low‐level jet (OLLJ), improving not only the representation of small‐scale jet streaks within the broader region of low‐level wind enhancement but also its diurnal and austral‐summer evolution. The OLLJ is found to be a single stream tube over Colombia and Venezuela with wind speeds greater than 8 m/s and four distinctive cores varying in height under the influence of sloping terrain. The OLLJ has its maximum monthly mean wind speed (13 m/s) and largest spatial extent (2,100 km × 400 km) in January. The maximum mean wind speeds (13–17 m/s) in the diurnal cycle occur in the early morning, whereas wind speeds are a minimum (8–9 m/s) in the late afternoon when a deep, convective boundary layer is present. The intraseasonal variability of the wind speed and potential temperature only presents significant periodicity in the diurnal and semidiurnal scales, with no other meaningful cycles evident during the austral summer.

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The Caribbean Basin: A Climatological Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Assessing environmental conditions associated with spatially varying rainfall structure of North Atlantic tropical cyclones: An object‐based climatological analysis

Assessing environmental conditions associated with spatially varying rainfall structure of North Atlantic tropical cyclones: An object‐based climatological analysis

Spatial and seasonal variations in surface water temperature and salinity in the Mexico‐Belize riverine estuary: Possible comfort conditions for manatees?

The Orinoco Low‐Level Jet: An Investigation of Its Characteristics and Evolution Using the WRF Model

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