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Abstract
A series of experiments using real-data general circulation model integrations is performed to study the impact of remote tropical Pacific heating modifications upon the rainfall over the Amazon Basin. In one set of experiments, a heating term is added to the thermodynamic equation in the western tropical Pacific Ocean, and in the second set, the sea surface temperatures are cooled in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The rainfall of northern sections of South America decreases in the first set of experiments and increases in the second set of experiments. Examination of the circulation changes for the second set of experiments suggests that the remote links occur through equatorially trapped flow modifications, perhaps related to the east-west Walker cells, rather than through midlatitude teleconnections via Hadley cells. The time evolution of these patterns suggests them to be clearly relevant for medium range weather prediction in the tropics.
Abstract
A series of experiments using real-data general circulation model integrations is performed to study the impact of remote tropical Pacific heating modifications upon the rainfall over the Amazon Basin. In one set of experiments, a heating term is added to the thermodynamic equation in the western tropical Pacific Ocean, and in the second set, the sea surface temperatures are cooled in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The rainfall of northern sections of South America decreases in the first set of experiments and increases in the second set of experiments. Examination of the circulation changes for the second set of experiments suggests that the remote links occur through equatorially trapped flow modifications, perhaps related to the east-west Walker cells, rather than through midlatitude teleconnections via Hadley cells. The time evolution of these patterns suggests them to be clearly relevant for medium range weather prediction in the tropics.
Abstract
We investigate the pattern of Amazon Basin rainfall forecasts of ten Global Weather Experiment (GWE) cases. Although the computations are based upon a rather crude wavenumber 15 resolution, the control forecasts exhibit a rather fine structure of the rainfall over tropical South America, including enhancements over the interior of the Amazon Basin and suppression on the northeast coast of Brazil. The forecasts appear to be in rather good agreement with climatology. The sensitivity of this model forecast to the presence of anomalous east Pacific heating is investigated through experiments in which a nonadiabatic term is added to the thermodynamic equation. These experiments suggest significant suppression of rainfall over the central Amazon Basin, and especially over the northeast portion of Brazil. This suppression is associated with the downward branch of a Walker circulation whose development is determined by a region of subsidence which propagates eastward from the eastern Pacific at a rate of about 30 m s−1. This evolution, which is consistent with the Kelvin wave contribution to the Walker cell, affects Brazil within about two days of the heating onset.
The evolution of upper-level convergence, implied sinking motion, and suppression of rainfall over tropical South America in the forecasts does not depend sensitively upon the placement of the anomalous tropical Pacific heating. In particular, enhancements of the North Pacific are approximately as effective as those of the South Pacific.
Abstract
We investigate the pattern of Amazon Basin rainfall forecasts of ten Global Weather Experiment (GWE) cases. Although the computations are based upon a rather crude wavenumber 15 resolution, the control forecasts exhibit a rather fine structure of the rainfall over tropical South America, including enhancements over the interior of the Amazon Basin and suppression on the northeast coast of Brazil. The forecasts appear to be in rather good agreement with climatology. The sensitivity of this model forecast to the presence of anomalous east Pacific heating is investigated through experiments in which a nonadiabatic term is added to the thermodynamic equation. These experiments suggest significant suppression of rainfall over the central Amazon Basin, and especially over the northeast portion of Brazil. This suppression is associated with the downward branch of a Walker circulation whose development is determined by a region of subsidence which propagates eastward from the eastern Pacific at a rate of about 30 m s−1. This evolution, which is consistent with the Kelvin wave contribution to the Walker cell, affects Brazil within about two days of the heating onset.
The evolution of upper-level convergence, implied sinking motion, and suppression of rainfall over tropical South America in the forecasts does not depend sensitively upon the placement of the anomalous tropical Pacific heating. In particular, enhancements of the North Pacific are approximately as effective as those of the South Pacific.
