LBA-ECO CD-01 Simulated Atmospheric Circulation, CO2 Variation, Tapajos: August 2001

Evaluation against flux tower observations and the SMC field measurements shows that, in many respects, the model captures observed meteorological variables and CO2 concentrations reasonably well. The results also suggest that the local topography, differences in roughness length between water and land, the T shape juxtaposition of Amazon and Tapajos Rivers, and the resulting horizontal and vertical wind shears, all facilitated the generation of local mesoscale circulations.

Possible mechanisms producing a lower level convergence line near the east bank of the Tapajos River during strong trade-wind conditions are also explored. Our modeling study is helping us to understand observed patterns of CO2 fluxes and concentration distribution obtained from flux towers and light aircraft.