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On the dynamics of droughts in northeast Brazil - Observations, theory and numerical experiments with a general circulation modelThe establishment of a thermally direct local circulation which has its ascending branch at about 10 deg N and its descending branch over northeast Brazil and the adjoining oceanic region is proposed as a possible mechanism for the occurrence of severe droughts over this Brazilian region. The driving for this anomalous circulation is provided by enhanced moist convection due to the effect of warmer sea surface anomalies over the northern tropical Atlantic and cooling associated with colder sea surface temperature anomalies in the southern tropical Atlantic. A simple primitive equation model is used to calculate the frictionally-controlled and thermally-driven circulation due to a prescribed heating function in a resting atmosphere, and a series of numerical experiments are carried out to test the sensitivity of the Goddard Laboratory's model to prescribed sea surface temperature anomalies over the tropical Atlantic.
Document ID
19820041403
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Moura, A. D.
(Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Shukla, J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 38
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
82A24938
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: FINEP-B/28-79-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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