Assessing the mechanisms of land-atmosphere coupling in Brazil

• Grant number: 17/21164-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences
• Principal Investigator: Yosio Edemir Shimabukuro
• Grantee: Yosio Edemir Shimabukuro
• Visiting researcher: Nathaniel Brunsell
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Kansas, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The proposed research will address the role of coupling between the land surface and the atmospheric boundary layer in the Amazon region of Brazil. A better understanding of the dynamics of land-atmosphere coupling is essential for assessing the stability of hydrologic regimes such as drought. The Amazonian region of Brazil has been shown to represent a region of strong soil moisture-precipitation feedbacks where dry and moist states can act as non-linear attractors. Using a novel non-linear dynamical systems approach based Lyapunov exponents; we will be able to quantify the strength of the coupling between the land and the atmosphere. Our technique allows us to quantify which variables and parameters are most closely connected to the stability of the attractors through an analysis of the impact of uncertainty in these fields. We will use the NOAH-MP land surface model and eddy covariance sites of the LBA project for verification of the model accuracy and sensitivity. We will combine the model with microwave soil moisture data (SMAP) and atmospheric profiles of humidity and temperature from MODIS (MOD07_L2 and MYD07_L2) in conjunction with ancillary satellite data such as the land surface temperature and vegetation condition and land cover change. In addition, we will conduct climate change scenarios to assess how the coupling and persistence of drought is likely to change under future climate conditions. This project will provide essential information on the use of satellite data sources for determining the evapotranspiration and carbon cycling. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

MATAVELI, GUILHERME AUGUSTO VEROLA; SILVA, MARIA ELISA SIQUEIRA; FRANCA, DANIELA DE AZEREDO; BRUNSELL, NATHANIEL ALAN; DE OLIVEIRA, GABRIEL; CARDOZO, FRANCIELLE DA SILVA; BERTANI, GABRIEL; PEREIRA, GABRIEL. Characterization and Trends of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Fire Emissions in the Brazilian Cerrado during 2002-2017. REMOTE SENSING, v. 11, n. 19, OCT 2019. (15/01389-4, 17/21164-2, 17/09308-9)