Classificação climatológica da energia potencial disponível para a convecção na cidade de Belém-PA

Abstract

The climatological classification of the Convection Available Potential Energy (CAPE) was studied in order to verify both the possibility of convection to start and the organizational type, in Belém (Pará - PA, Brazil), associating it to extreme precipitation events (EEPRP). For the CAPE analysis, DTCEA's radiosonde data and precipitation measurements from the INMET's stations, in the period from 1987 to 2011, we used. It was observed that the local atmosphere presented favorable conditions for the development of deep convection, because the most frequent CAPE values were higher than 1000 J/Kg, representing 61% of all radiosonde measurements. According to some authors, a CAPE value of 1000J/Kg is the deep convection limit. The CAPE 2 and 3 classifications presented significant increasing tendencies along the years, whereas CAPE 1 showed a decrease. This is probably due to the air temperature increased at the city, impacting the CAPE value. A low correlation between CAPE and EEPRP, as well as between CAPE and Pacific Ocean Index and the Atlantic Interhemispheric Gradient. was also shown. Therefore CAPE is not sufficient condition for the formation of clouds and precipitation, since meso and large scale dynamical forcing are relevant contributors to the climate modulation on the city.