Environmental conditions associated with Amazonian squall lines : a case study

The environmental conditions associated with squall lines (SL) that were observed during the period of 13 April-13 May 1987 (GTE /ABLE-2B) originating at the northern coast of South America and propagating over the Amazon Basin are documented. The SL observed on 5-7 May are examined in more detail....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly weather review 1995-11, Vol.123 (11), p.3163-3174
Main Authors: COHEN, J. C. P, SILVA DIAS, M. A. F, NOBRE, C. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Meteorology
Water in the atmosphere (humidity, clouds, evaporation, precipitation)
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Summary:The environmental conditions associated with squall lines (SL) that were observed during the period of 13 April-13 May 1987 (GTE /ABLE-2B) originating at the northern coast of South America and propagating over the Amazon Basin are documented. The SL observed on 5-7 May are examined in more detail. The SL days had in common a stronger and deeper low-level jet when compared with the days without SL. Two possible explanations are found for the intensification of the low-level jet: propagating easterly waves in the tropical Atlantic, which eventually reach Manaus, and localized heat sources in the western Amazon. Both were observed on 5-6 May. It is suggested that numerical simulations should be performed to unravel the relative importance of each large-scale mechanism.
ISSN:0027-0644
1520-0493
DOI:10.1175/1520-0493(1995)123<3163:ECAWAS>2.0.CO;2