Impact of Amazon deforestation on climate simulations using the NCAR CCM2/BATS model

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:535164

Hahmann, A N; Dickinson, R E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)

Model validation and results are briefly presented for a simulation of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. This initial study is made using assumptions regarding deforestation similar to those in earlier studies with several versions of the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM) couples to the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS). The model used is a revised version of the NCAR CCM Version 2 coupled to BATS Version 1e. This paper discusses the portion of validation dealing with the distribution of precipitation; the simulation displays very good agreement with observed rainfall rates for the austral summer. Preliminary results from an 8-year simulation of deforestation are similar to that of previous studies. Annual precipitation and evaporation are reduced, while surface air temperatures show a slight increase. A substantial bimodal pattern appears in the results, with the Amazon decrease of precipitation and temperature increase accompanied by changes in the opposite sign to the southeast of the Amazon. Similar patterns have occurred in other studies, but not always in exactly the same locations. Evidently, how much of the region of rainfall increase occurs in the deforested area over the Amazon strongly affects the inferred statistics. It is likely that this pattern depends on the model control climatology and possibly other features. 16 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 535164
• Report Number(s): CONF-960146--; CNN: Project ATM 9419715
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMAZON RIVER
B CODES
BRAZIL
CLIMATE MODELS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEFORESTATION
PERU
R CODES