Aspectos observacionais e numéricos da interação floresta-atmosfera na Amazônia oriental: fenômenos turbulentos noturnos

Abstract

This study identified two nocturnal turbulent phenomena above Caxiuanã region, in the eastern Amazonia, during its dry season: low level jets (LLJ) and wind gusts, using data from the field campaigns CiMeLA (dry season of 2003) and COBRA-PARÁ (dry season of 2006). Both of them were analyzed observationally, considering aspects such as time of occurrence, intensity, height and duration, as well as their nocturnal evolution. It was verified that most of the LLJ events were accompanied by a drop in equivalent potential temperature. It was also found that the wind gusts had an important influence over the forest-atmosphere exchanges. The genesis of these phenomena was also investigated. It was noted, using the mesoscale model BRAMS, that the origin of the jets is possibly associated to the sea breeze and the intensification of the northeasterly winds. These results were based on sensibility tests, which included the removal of the rivers, the ocean-continent interface, the effects of downdrafts and the deforestation of the region. It was observed that the origin of the wind gusts is associated to the existence of Caxiuanã bay, which resembles a lake, and to the local convective activity. Furthermore, it was found that both phenomena did not exist simultaneously, except for one single night. This can be explained by a shear-sheltering effect that impedes that propagation of the turbulence downward, to the surface. This effect is generated by the presence of strong LLJs. This research reflects the importance and complexity of the atmospheric phenomena near the coast of Pará.