Microfísica das nuvens geradoras de precipitação extrema na Costa Leste do Nordeste

Abstract

From this research, it is proposed to characterize the microphysical variables of clouds that generate extreme precipitation events over the East Coast of the Northeast Region of Brazil (CLNEB), by quarter, between the years from 1998 to 2014. The objective was to characterize the variables: Integrated Rainwater Content – RWP (kg/m²), Integrated Ice Content – IWP (kg/m²), Surface Precipitation Rate – SP (mm/h), derived from the 2ACLIM product (Microwave Imager – MI sensor), Freezing Level Height – FH (m), Precipitation Rate (mm/h) and Rainfall Type, from the 2APR product (Precipitation Radar – PR sensor), data from the Tropical Rainfall satellite Measuring Mission (TRMM). To analyze these microphysical variables, statistical methods and measurements were used, such as mean, standard deviation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and non-parametric tests by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn. Finally, a conceptual model was presented to characterize the microphysics of clouds that generate extreme precipitation in this locality. The main results showed that the seasonal periods from December to February and from March to May, in both products, presented higher amounts of estimated rainfall for the clouds that generate extreme precipitation over the CLNEB. The height of the freezing level ranged from 4400 to 5150 meters in relation to the altitude of the 0º C isotherm. However, it was found that there was no difference between the pairs of averages for this parameter between the seasonal periods from June to August and from September to November on CLNEB (p-value > 0.05). It was observed that the extreme precipitation of the CLNEB comes from severe convective clouds (71.36%) and stratiform clouds (28.64%), both cold clouds.