scholarly journals The Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS 5.2): an integrated environmental model tuned for tropical areas

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulo R. Freitas ◽  
Jairo Panetta ◽  
Karla M. Longo ◽  
Luiz F. Rodrigues ◽  
Demerval S. Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
South America ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We present a new version of the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System where different previous versions for weather, chemistry and carbon cycle were unified in a single integrated software system. The new version also has a new set of state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and greater computational parallel and memory usage efficiency. Together with the description of the main features are examples of the quality of the transport scheme for scalars, radiative fluxes on surface and model simulation of rainfall systems over South America in different spatial resolutions using a scale-aware convective parameterization. Besides, the simulation of the diurnal cycle of the convection and carbon dioxide concentration over the Amazon Basin, as well as carbon dioxide fluxes from biogenic processes over a large portion of South America are shown. Atmospheric chemistry examples present model performance in simulating near-surface carbon monoxide and ozone in Amazon Basin and Rio de Janeiro megacity. For tracer transport and dispersion, it is demonstrated the model capabilities to simulate the volcanic ash 3-d redistribution associated with the eruption of a Chilean volcano. Then, the gain of computational efficiency is described with some details. BRAMS has been applied for research and operational forecasting mainly in South America. Model results from the operational weather forecast of BRAMS on 5 km grid spacing in the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, INPE/Brazil, since 2013 are used to quantify the model skill of near surface variables and rainfall. The scores show the reliability of BRAMS for the tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Requirements for keeping this modeling system competitive regarding on its functionalities and skills are discussed. At last, we highlight the relevant contribution of this work on the building up of a South American community of model developers.

scholarly journals The Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS 5.2): an integrated environmental model tuned for tropical areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulo R. Freitas ◽  
Jairo Panetta ◽  
Karla M. Longo ◽  
Luiz F. Rodrigues ◽  
Demerval S. Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
South America ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We present a new version of the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS), in which different previous versions for weather, chemistry, and carbon cycle were unified in a single integrated modeling system software. This new version also has a new set of state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and greater computational parallel and memory usage efficiency. The description of the main model features includes several examples illustrating the quality of the transport scheme for scalars, radiative fluxes on surface, and model simulation of rainfall systems over South America at different spatial resolutions using a scale aware convective parameterization. Additionally, the simulation of the diurnal cycle of the convection and carbon dioxide concentration over the Amazon Basin, as well as carbon dioxide fluxes from biogenic processes over a large portion of South America, are shown. Atmospheric chemistry examples show the model performance in simulating near-surface carbon monoxide and ozone in the Amazon Basin and the megacity of Rio de Janeiro. For tracer transport and dispersion, the model capabilities to simulate the volcanic ash 3-D redistribution associated with the eruption of a Chilean volcano are demonstrated. The gain of computational efficiency is described in some detail. BRAMS has been applied for research and operational forecasting mainly in South America. Model results from the operational weather forecast of BRAMS on 5 km grid spacing in the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, INPE/Brazil, since 2013 are used to quantify the model skill of near-surface variables and rainfall. The scores show the reliability of BRAMS for the tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Requirements for keeping this modeling system competitive regarding both its functionalities and skills are discussed. Finally, we highlight the relevant contribution of this work to building a South American community of model developers.

scholarly journals The Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) – Part 2: Model sensitivity to the biomass burning inventories

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 8571-8595 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Longo ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
A. Setzer ◽  
E. Prins ◽  
P. Artaxo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We describe an estimation technique for biomass burning emissions in South America based on a combination of remote sensing fire products and field observations. For each fire pixel detected by remote sensing, the mass of the emitted tracer is calculated based on field observations of fire properties related to the type of vegetation burning. The burnt area is estimated from the instantaneous fire size retrieved by remote sensing, when available, or from statistical properties of the burn scars. The sources are then spatially and temporally distributed and assimilated daily by the Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) in order to perform the prognostic of related tracer concentrations. Two other biomass burning inventories are simultaneously used to compare the emission strength in terms of the resultant tracer distribution. Several evaluations of the model with the three emission estimations were performed, comparing results with direct measurements of carbon monoxide both near-surface and airborne, as well as remote sensing derived products. Model results with the methodology of estimation introduced in this paper show a relatively good agreement with the direct measurements and MOPITT data product; pointing out the reliability of the model from local to regional scales.

scholarly journals The Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) – Part 1: Model description and evaluation

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2843-2861 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
K. M. Longo ◽  
M. A. F. Silva Dias ◽  
R. Chatfield ◽  
P. Silva Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We introduce the Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS). CATT-BRAMS is an on-line transport model fully consistent with the simulated atmospheric dynamics. Emission sources from biomass burning and urban-industrial-vehicular activities for trace gases and from biomass burning aerosol particles are obtained from several published datasets and remote sensing information. The tracer and aerosol mass concentration prognostics include the effects of sub-grid scale turbulence in the planetary boundary layer, convective transport by shallow and deep moist convection, wet and dry deposition, and plume rise associated with vegetation fires in addition to the grid scale transport. The radiation parameterization takes into account the interaction between the simulated biomass burning aerosol particles and short and long wave radiation. The atmospheric model BRAMS is based on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), with several improvements associated with cumulus convection representation, soil moisture initialization and surface scheme tuned for the tropics, among others. In this paper the CATT-BRAMS model is used to simulate carbon monoxide and particulate material (PM2.5) surface fluxes and atmospheric transport during the 2002 LBA field campaigns, conducted during the transition from the dry to wet season in the southwest Amazon Basin. Model evaluation is addressed with comparisons between model results and near surface, radiosondes and airborne measurements performed during the field campaign, as well as remote sensing derived products. We show the matching of emissions strengths to observed carbon monoxide in the LBA campaign. A relatively good comparison to the MOPITT data, in spite of the fact that MOPITT a priori assumptions imply several difficulties, is also obtained.

scholarly journals The Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) – Part 1: Model description and evaluation

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 8525-8569 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
K. M. Longo ◽  
M. A. F. Silva Dias ◽  
R. Chatfield ◽  
P. Silva Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Wave Radiation ◽  
Model Description ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We introduce the Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS). CATT-BRAMS is an on-line transport model fully consistent with the simulated atmospheric dynamics. Emission sources from biomass burning and urban-industrial-vehicular activities for trace gases and aerosol particles are obtained from several published datasets and remote sensing information. The tracer and aerosol mass concentration prognostic includes the effects of sub-grid scale turbulence in the planetary boundary layer, convective transport by shallow and deep moist convection, wet and dry deposition, and plume rise associated with vegetation fires in addition to the grid scale transport. The radiation parameterization takes into account the interaction between aerosol particles and short and long wave radiation. The atmospheric model BRAMS is based on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), with several improvements associated with cumulus convection representation, soil moisture initialization and surface scheme tuned for the tropics, among others. In this paper the CATT-BRAMS model is used to simulate carbon monoxide and particulate material (PM2.5) surface fluxes and atmospheric transport during the 2002 LBA field campaigns, conducted during the transition from the dry to wet season in the southwest Amazon Basin. Model evaluation is addressed with comparisons between model results and near surface, radiosonde and airborne measurements performed during the field campaign, as well as remote sensing derived products. We show the matching of emissions strengths to observed carbon monoxide in the LBA campaign. A relatively good comparison to the MOPITT data, in spite of the fact that MOPITT a priori assumptions imply several difficulties, is also obtained.

scholarly journals The Chemistry CATT-BRAMS model (CCATT-BRAMS 4.5): a regional atmospheric model system for integrated air quality and weather forecasting and research

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1389-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Longo ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
M. Pirre ◽  
V. Marécal ◽  
L. F. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Model Description ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Chemical Transport Model ◽  
Chemical Mechanisms ◽  
On Line

Abstract. Coupled Chemistry Aerosol-Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CCATT-BRAMS, version 4.5) is an on-line regional chemical transport model designed for local and regional studies of atmospheric chemistry from the surface to the lower stratosphere suitable both for operational and research purposes. It includes gaseous/aqueous chemistry, photochemistry, scavenging and dry deposition. The CCATT-BRAMS model takes advantage of BRAMS-specific development for the tropics/subtropics as well as the recent availability of preprocessing tools for chemical mechanisms and fast codes for photolysis rates. BRAMS includes state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and dynamic formulations to simulate atmospheric circulations down to the meter. This on-line coupling of meteorology and chemistry allows the system to be used for simultaneous weather and chemical composition forecasts as well as potential feedback between the two. The entire system is made of three preprocessing software tools for user-defined chemical mechanisms, aerosol and trace gas emissions fields and the interpolation of initial and boundary conditions for meteorology and chemistry. In this paper, the model description is provided along with the evaluations performed by using observational data obtained from ground-based stations, instruments aboard aircrafts and retrieval from space remote sensing. The evaluation accounts for model applications at different scales from megacities and the Amazon Basin up to the intercontinental region of the Southern Hemisphere.

scholarly journals The chemistry CATT–BRAMS model (CCATT–BRAMS 4.5): a regional atmospheric model system for integrated air quality and weather forecasting and research

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1173-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Longo ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
M. Pirre ◽  
V. Marécal ◽  
L. F. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Model Description ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Chemical Transport Model

Abstract. The Coupled Chemistry Aerosol-Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CCATT–BRAMS, version 4.5) is an online regional chemical transport model designed for local and regional studies of atmospheric chemistry from surface to the lower stratosphere suitable both for operational and research purposes. It includes gaseous/aqueous chemistry, photochemistry, scavenging and dry deposition. The CCATT–BRAMS model takes advantages of the BRAMS specific development for the tropics/subtropics and of the recent availability of preprocessing tools for chemical mechanisms and of fast codes for photolysis rates. BRAMS includes state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and dynamic formulations to simulate atmospheric circulations of scales down to meters. The online coupling between meteorology and chemistry allows the system to be used for simultaneous atmospheric weather and chemical composition forecasts as well as potential feedbacks between them. The entire system comprises three preprocessing software tools for chemical mechanism (which are user defined), aerosol and trace gases emission fields and atmospheric and chemistry fields for initial and boundary conditions. In this paper, the model description is provided along evaluations performed using observational data obtained from ground-based stations, instruments aboard of aircrafts and retrieval from space remote sensing. The evaluation takes into account model application on different scales from megacities and Amazon Basin up to intercontinental region of the Southern Hemisphere.

scholarly journals The Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) – Part 2: Model sensitivity to the biomass burning inventories

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 5785-5795 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Longo ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
M. O. Andreae ◽  
A. Setzer ◽  
E. Prins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Tracer Transport ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. We describe an estimation technique for biomass burning emissions in South America based on a combination of remote-sensing fire products and field observations, the Brazilian Biomass Burning Emission Model (3BEM). For each fire pixel detected by remote sensing, the mass of the emitted tracer is calculated based on field observations of fire properties related to the type of vegetation burning. The burnt area is estimated from the instantaneous fire size retrieved by remote sensing, when available, or from statistical properties of the burn scars. The sources are then spatially and temporally distributed and assimilated daily by the Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport model to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CATT-BRAMS) in order to perform the prognosis of related tracer concentrations. Three other biomass burning inventories, including GFEDv2 and EDGAR, are simultaneously used to compare the emission strength in terms of the resultant tracer distribution. We also assess the effect of using the daily time resolution of fire emissions by including runs with monthly-averaged emissions. We evaluate the performance of the model using the different emission estimation techniques by comparing the model results with direct measurements of carbon monoxide both near-surface and airborne, as well as remote sensing derived products. The model results obtained using the 3BEM methodology of estimation introduced in this paper show relatively good agreement with the direct measurements and MOPITT data product, suggesting the reliability of the model at local to regional scales.

scholarly journals Using the Firefly optimization method to weight an ensemble of rainfall forecasts from the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS)

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. dos Santos ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
J. G. Z. de Mattos ◽  
H. F. de Campos Velho ◽  
M. A. Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Estimation ◽  
South America ◽  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Daily Precipitation ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Precipitation Field ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract. In this paper we consider an optimization problem applying the metaheuristic Firefly algorithm (FY) to weight an ensemble of rainfall forecasts from daily precipitation simulations with the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS) over South America during January 2006. The method is addressed as a parameter estimation problem to weight the ensemble of precipitation forecasts carried out using different options of the convective parameterization scheme. Ensemble simulations were performed using different choices of closures, representing different formulations of dynamic control (the modulation of convection by the environment) in a deep convection scheme. The optimization problem is solved as an inverse problem of parameter estimation. The application and validation of the methodology is carried out using daily precipitation fields, defined over South America and obtained by merging remote sensing estimations with rain gauge observations. The quadratic difference between the model and observed data was used as the objective function to determine the best combination of the ensemble members to reproduce the observations. To reduce the model rainfall biases, the set of weights determined by the algorithm is used to weight members of an ensemble of model simulations in order to compute a new precipitation field that represents the observed precipitation as closely as possible. The validation of the methodology is carried out using classical statistical scores. The algorithm has produced the best combination of the weights, resulting in a new precipitation field closest to the observations.

scholarly journals Coupling between the JULES land-surface scheme and the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model (JULES-CCATT-BRAMS1.0): applications to numerical weather forecasting and the CO<sub>2</sub> budget in South America

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 453-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Moreira ◽  
S. R. Freitas ◽  
J. P. Bonatti ◽  
L. M. Mercado ◽  
N. M. É. Rosário ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Dew Point ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Co2 Concentrations ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. This article presents the development of a new numerical system denominated JULES-CCATT-BRAMS, which resulted from the coupling of the JULES surface model to the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model. The performance of this system in relation to several meteorological variables (wind speed at 10 m, air temperature at 2 m, dew point temperature at 2 m, pressure reduced to mean sea level and 6 h accumulated precipitation) and the CO2 concentration above an extensive area of South America is also presented, focusing on the Amazon basin. The evaluations were conducted for two periods, the wet (March) and dry (September) seasons of 2010. The statistics used to perform the evaluation included bias (BIAS) and root mean squared error (RMSE). The errors were calculated in relation to observations at conventional stations in airports and automatic stations. In addition, CO2 concentrations in the first model level were compared with meteorological tower measurements and vertical CO2 profiles were compared with aircraft data. The results of this study show that the JULES model coupled to CCATT-BRAMS provided a significant gain in performance in the evaluated atmospheric fields relative to those simulated by the LEAF (version 3) surface model originally utilized by CCATT-BRAMS. Simulations of CO2 concentrations in Amazonia and a comparison with observations are also discussed and show that the system presents a gain in performance relative to previous studies. Finally, we discuss a wide range of numerical studies integrating coupled atmospheric, land surface and chemistry processes that could be produced with the system described here. Therefore, this work presents to the scientific community a free tool, with good performance in relation to the observed data and re-analyses, able to produce atmospheric simulations/forecasts at different resolutions, for any period of time and in any region of the globe.

Investigation of the Summer Climate of the Contiguous United States and Mexico Using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Part II: Model Climate Variability

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3866-3887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Castro ◽  
Roger A. Pielke ◽  
Jimmy O. Adegoke ◽  
Siegfried D. Schubert ◽  
Phillip J. Pegion
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling System ◽  
Prediction Mode ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Seasonal Weather

Abstract Summer simulations over the contiguous United States and Mexico with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) dynamically downscaling the NCEP–NCAR Reanalysis I for the period 1950–2002 (described in Part I of the study) are evaluated with respect to the three dominant modes of global SST. Two of these modes are associated with the statistically significant, naturally occurring interannual and interdecadal variability in the Pacific. The remaining mode corresponds to the recent warming of tropical sea surface temperatures. Time-evolving teleconnections associated with Pacific SSTs delay or accelerate the evolution of the North American monsoon. At the period of maximum teleconnectivity in late June and early July, there is an opposite relationship between precipitation in the core monsoon region and the central United States. Use of a regional climate model (RCM) is essential to capture this variability because of its representation of the diurnal cycle of convective rainfall. The RCM also captures the observed long-term changes in Mexican summer rainfall and suggests that these changes are due in part to the recent increase in eastern Pacific SST off the Mexican coast. To establish the physical linkage to remote SST forcing, additional RAMS seasonal weather prediction mode simulations were performed and these results are briefly discussed. In order for RCMs to be successful in a seasonal weather prediction mode for the summer season, it is required that the GCM provide a reasonable representation of the teleconnections and have a climatology that is comparable to a global atmospheric reanalysis.

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