Estudo da convecção rasa a partir de dados do ERA5 na área continental tropical do Brasil e Oceano Atlântico adjacente.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze shallow convection, also known as fair-weather cumulus clouds, in the tropical region of Brazil using ERA5 reanalysis data. Shallow convection plays an important role in the atmospheric energy balance, especially in the lower troposphere, influencing the vertical profiles of temperature and humidity. By examining the vertical profiles of the apparent heat source (Q1) and the apparent moisture sink (Q2), the study seeks to understand the characteristics and the daily cycle of these clouds over different surface types and atmospheric conditions. The analysis covers the tropical continental area of Brazil and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean, with a focus on the summer period, when shallow convection is more frequent. The results show that it is possible to capture key features of shallow convection, such as the downward transport of heat and the upward transport of moisture in the lower troposphere. The findings highlight the importance of shallow convection in redistributing heat and moisture, especially over land, where daytime surface heating enhances the process. Over the ocean, the response is more moderate due to the high thermal capacity of water, which keeps temperature variations more stable.