Case Studies of Forest Windthrows and Mesoscale Convective Systems in Amazonia

Feng, Yanlei; Negrón‐Juárez, Robinson I.; Chiang, John C. H.; Chambers, Jeffrey Q.

doi:10.1029/2023GL104395

Title: Case Studies of Forest Windthrows and Mesoscale Convective Systems in Amazonia

Journal Article · 22 June 2023 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL104395 · OSTI ID:1986411

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Department of Geography University of California Berkeley CA USA
Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA USA
Department of Geography University of California Berkeley CA USA, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA USA

Abstract This study identifies 38 cases of windthrows in the Amazonia to explore the relationship between windthrows and the characteristics (storm passing time, cloud top temperature, and maximum precipitation) of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that produced them. Most of windthrow cases in this study occurred in August and September. The storm passing time is positively correlated with the size of windthrows. MCSs with colder cloud top temperature (with a mean at 206 K)—indicating deeper convection—resulted in large windthrows, while those with warm cloud top (with a mean above 230 K) resulted in relatively small windthrows except for windthrows in the western Amazonia. No significant relationship is found between maximum precipitation intensity and the area of windthrows.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1986411

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 50; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Amazon forest
convective storms
forest disturbance
storms
wind
windthrow

Title: Case Studies of Forest Windthrows and Mesoscale Convective Systems in Amazonia

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