Simulação numérica das interações biosfera-atmosfera em área de caatinga: uma análise da expansão agrícola em ambiente semiárido.

Abstract

In this work the version 6.0 of the numerical model RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) is used with the main objective of simulating the influence of agricultural expansion on the water and energy exchange in Caatinga vegetation areas, and to quantify the effects that changes on soil use and coverage have on the generation of thermally induced circulations and convective activity. The scenarios of soil use investigated are designed to represent native environmental conditions (without anthropogenic influences) and with alterations due to the implementation of the Sobradinho reservoir, and the expansion of agricultural activities and irrigation in a semiarid climate area. The large scale atmospheric ambient is characterized by the dynamic and thermodynamic structure typical of the central area of an upper level cyclonic vortex. The period of study was chosen aiming at environmental conditions with largely diversified agricultural use in Caatinga vegetation areas (agriculture with and without irrigation), and almost cloudless skies. The temporal evolution of the accumulated convective precipitation in the numerical simulations of the agricultural expansion shows large differences in the effects of agriculture with and without irrigation. The irrigated areas higher evapotranspiration rate causes a substantial increase in the moisture content in the lower troposphere, and lower the air temperature and convective precipitation.