Multi-scale processes driving tropical convection and influence of the aerosol

• Grant number: 13/50521-7
• Support type: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Regular Grants
• Duration: January 01, 2014 - December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Cooperation agreement: GOAmazon Collaborative Research
• Principal researcher: Tercio Ambrizzi
• Grantee: Tercio Ambrizzi
• Principal researcher abroad: Carlos Roberto Mechoso
• Institution abroad: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States
• Home Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The long-term goal of our project is to develop constrains model parameterizations for tropical rain forest and to assess how these constrains are perturbed by pollution. The present proposal addresses the fundamental subject of atmospheric variability in Amazonia and aerosol effects on this variability. A two-pronged approach is planned with a focus on the region of the GOAmazon campaign: (1) Statistical analysis of data from the GOAmazon sites in view of properties relevant to convection and its interaction with the aerosol, and 2) Aerosol effects on convective clouds and precipitation, including the roles of aerosols in changing regional climate and atmospheric circulation for clean and polluted situations. In situ data collected by the GOAmazon campaign and output from a hierarchy of numerical models ranging from general circulation models of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system to cloud resolving models will be extensively used. In reference to approach (1), we will concentrate on three aspects. The first aspect refers to the effect of free propospheric humidity on deep convective onset. We have developed a set of statistics to quantify convection onset based on data and instrumentation from other tropical DOE ARM sites (e.g. Nauru). The second aspect in approach (1) refers to the variability of vertical shear and relative humidity in the lower troposphere. Studies with numerical models have demonstrated that these properties of the atmosphere can play a role in whether aerosols suppress or enhance convective strength. The third aspect refers to the intraseasonal regimes of lower tropospheric winds in central Amazonia.Studies with observational data have shown that vertically integrated moisture convergence in the GOAmazon sites can have significant differences. In reference to approach (2), we will stratify the data from the GOAmazon sites according to aerosol information (e.g., mass loading, size distribution and chemical composition). Then we will assess the regulating effects of aerosols on selected individual deep convective clouds by running simulations using a cloud resolving model (CRM) coupled with detailed spectral bin microphysics for cases of pristine and polluted conditions. The international collaboration US-Brazil will allow the exchange of expertise in different numerical models of the atmosphere and their use in research of aerosol effects. Short-time exchanges of senior personnel and longer stays of other project. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SHIMIZU, MARILIA HARUMI; AMBRIZZI, TERCIO; LIEBMANN, BRANT. Extreme precipitation events and their relationship with ENSO and MJO phases over northern South America. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, v. 37, n. 6, p. 2977-2989, MAY 2017. (13/02797-3, 13/50521-7, 08/58101-9)

REHBEIN, AMANDA; AMBRIZZI, TERCIO; MECHOSO, CARLOS ROBERTO. Mesoscale convective systems over the Amazon basin. Part I: climatological aspects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, v. 38, n. 1, p. 215-229, JAN 2018. (13/50521-7, 16/10557-0)

VILLAMAYOR, JULIAN; AMBRIZZI, TERCIO; MOHINO, ELSA. Influence of decadal sea surface temperature variability on northern Brazil rainfall in CMIP5 simulations. Climate Dynamics, v. 51, n. 1-2, p. 563-579, JUL 2018. (13/50521-7, 08/58101-9)

LLOPART, MARTA; COPPOLA, ERIKA; GIORGI, FILIPPO; DA ROCHA, ROSMERI P.; CUADRA, SANTIAGO V.. Climate change impact on precipitation for the Amazon and La Plata basins. Climatic Change, v. 125, n. 1, p. 111-125, JUL 2014. (13/50521-7)

CUSTODIO, MARIA DE SOUZA; DA ROCHA, ROSMERI PORFIRIO; AMBRIZZI, TERCIO; VIDALE, PIER LUIGI; DEMORY, MARIE-ESTELLE. Impact of increased horizontal resolution in coupled and atmosphere-only models of the HadGEM1 family upon the climate patterns of South America. Climate Dynamics, v. 48, n. 9-10, p. 3341-3364, MAY 2017. (13/50521-7)

SHRIVASTAVA, MANISH; ANDREAE, MEINRAT O.; ARTAXO, PAULO; BARBOSA, HENRIQUE M. J.; BERG, LARRY K.; BRITO, JOEL; CHING, JOSEPH; EASTER, RICHARD C.; FAN, JIWEN; FAST, JEROME D.; et al. Urban pollution greatly enhances formation of natural aerosols over the Amazon rainforest. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, v. 10, MAR 5 2019. (13/50521-7, 17/17047-0, 13/05014-0)

LLOPART, MARTA; DA ROCHA, ROSMERI P.; REBOITA, MICHELLE; CUADRA, SANTIAGO. Sensitivity of simulated South America climate to the land surface schemes in RegCM4. Climate Dynamics, v. 49, n. 11-12, p. 3975-3987, DEC 2017. (13/50521-7)