Hydroclimatology
Tropical Deforestation and the Impact of Surface Heterogeneities on Convection
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was launched in November 1997 by NASA. This satellite carries a meteorological radar and passive microwave instruments, all capable of detecting precipitation over the all important tropical areas of the globe. The Amazon forest is the largest such system on earth. Our goal is to understand the behavior of the forest and its response to on-going precipitation. In particular we seek to develop a model capable of reproducing the effect of the historical deforestation of the Amazon. The model is to be used to study the resulting patterns of temperatures, convection, cloudiness and rainfall. TRMM observations will be used to corroborate results and as information to be assimilated by the model. A result of deforestation is the creation of a very variable surface boundary driving the atmospheric phenomena. The formation of "land breezes", analogous to sea breezes, results from the contrast of temperature, surface roughness, surface humidity and other factors. We seek to quantify how important and at what scales these mesoscale convection occurs. Theoretical and numerical modeling tools are used. Prof. Elfatih Eltahir collaborates in this effort.
Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Fluxes
The increasing need to obtain hydrologic and meteorologic data in remote or inaccessible areas and the demand for higher spatial and time resolution data makes remote sensing the only viable monitoring mechanism of the future. Nevertheless, difficulties still abound. In particular, the estimation of surface fluxes is complicated and normally requires a combination of approaches to obtain related gradients. We have recently developed and continue to explore an algorithm to infer surface fluxes like latent heat, sensible heat and ground heat flux from readily available single surface measurements.
Current Projects
Title: An Optimality Principle of Evaporation over the Land Surface
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Duration: September 2003 - August 2006
Title: Estimation of Precipitation Recycling and Hydrological Cycle Intensity Using TRMM Observations
Funding Agency: NASA
Duration: September 2003 - September 2006
Title: Is Deforestation Changing the Hydrologic Climate and Vegetation Dynamics of the Amazon?
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Duration: March 2005 - February 2009
Title: Discovery Driven NEWS Investigation: THP Hydroclimatic Impacts of Amazon Deforestation
Funding Agency: NASA
Duration: February 2006 - February 2009