Diurnal variability of rainfall in southwest Amazonia during the LBA-TRMM field campaign of the austral summer of 1999

The TRMM-LBA field campaign was held during the austral summer of 1999 in southwestern Amazonia. Among the major objectives, was the identification and description of the diurnal variability of rainfall in the region, associated with the different rain producing weather systems that occurred during the January-February season. By using a network of 40 digital rain gauges implemented in the state of Rondônia, and together with observations and analyses of circulation and convection, it was possible to identify details of the diurnal cycle of rainfall and the associated rainfall mechanisms. Rainfall episodes were characterized by regimes of "low-level easterly" and "westerly" winds in the context of the large-scale circulation. The westerly regime is related to an enhanced South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and an intense and/or wide Low Level Jet (LLJ) east of the Andes, which can extend eastward towards Rondônia, even though some westerly regime episodes also show a LLJ that remains close to the foothill of the Andes. The easterly regime is related to easterly propagating systems (e.g. squall-lines) with possible weakened or less frequent LLJs and a suppressed SACZ. Diurnal variability of rainfall during westerly surface wind regime shows a characteristic maximum at late afternoon followed by a relatively weaker second maximum at early evening (2100 Local Standard Time LST). The easterly regime composite shows an early morning maximum followed by an even stronger maximum in the afternoon.

Intraseasonal and Interannual Variability of Extreme Dry and Wet Events over Southeastern South America and the Subtropical Atlantic during Austral Summer

Intraseasonal and interannual variability of extreme wet and dry anomalies over southeastern Brazil and the western subtropical South Atlantic Ocean are investigated. Precipitation data are obtained from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) in pentads during 23 austral summers (December-February 1979/80-2001/02). Extreme wet (dry) events are defined according to 75th (25th) percentiles of precipitation anomaly distributions observed in two time scales: intraseasonal and interannual. The agreement between the 25th and 75th percentiles of the GPCP precipitation and gridded precipitation obtained from stations in Brazil is also examined. Variations of extreme wet and dry anomalies on interannual time scales are investigated along with variations of sea surface temperature (SST) and circulation anomalies. The South Atlantic SST dipole seems related to interannual variations of extreme precipitation events over southeastern Brazil. It is shown that extreme wet and dry events in the continental portion of the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) are decoupled from extremes over the oceanic portion of the SACZ and there is no coherent dipole of extreme precipitation regimes between tropics and subtropics on interannual time scales. On intraseasonal time scales, the occurrence of extreme dry and wet events depends on the propagation phase of extratropical wave trains and consequent intensification (weakening) of 200-hPa zonal winds. Extreme wet and dry events over southeastern Brazil and subtropical Atlantic are in phase on intraseasonal time scales. Extreme wet events over southeastern Brazil and subtropical Atlantic are observed in association with low-level northerly winds above the 75th percentile of the seasonal climatology over central-eastern South America. Extreme wet events on intraseasonal time scales over southeastern Brazil are more frequent during seasons not classified as extreme wet or dry on interannual time scales.

Metabolism and biomass vertical distribution of zooplankton in the Bransfield Strait during the austral summer of 2000

[EN] The vertical distribution (0?550 m) of zooplankton biomass, and indices of respiration (electron transfer system [ETS]) and structural growth (aminoacyltRNA synthetases activity [AARS]), were studied in waters off the Antarctic Peninsula during the austral summer of 2000. The dominant species were the copepod Metridia gerlachei and the euphausiid Euphausia superba. We observed a vertical krill/copepod substitution in the water column. The zooplankton biomass in the layer at a depth of 200?500 m was of the same magnitude as the biomass in the layer at a depth of 0?200 m, indicating that biomass in the mesopelagic zone is an important fraction of the total zooplankton in Antarctic waters. The metabolic rates of the zooplankton community were sustained by less than 0.5% of the primary production in the area, suggesting that microplankton or small copepods are the main food source. Neither food availability nor predation seemed to control mesozooplankton biomass. The wide time lag between the abundance peak of the dominant copepod (M. gerlachei) and the phytoplankton bloom is suggested to be the main explanation for the low summer zooplankton biomass observed in these waters.

Physical oceanography in the Western Bransfield Strait and Gerlache Strait during Austral summer 1995/96

n the framework of the FRUELA project, two oceanographic surveys were conducted by R/V Hespérides in the eastern Bellingshausen Sea, western basin of the Bransfield Strait and Gerlache Strait area during December 1995 and January 1996. The main hydrographic structures of the study domain were the Southern Boundary of the ACC and the Bransfield Front. The characteristics and zonation of local water masses are discussed in terms of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrient and inorganic carbon concentrations. Concentration intervals for water mass labelling, on the basis of chemical parameters in addition to the common theta/S-based classification, are defined. Silicate seems to be a very good discriminator for local water masses.

Fitoplancton del mar peruano durante el verano austral 2001

Analiza los volúmenes de plancton, la composición y distribución del fitoplancton de red y de agua en la columna de 0-50 metros de profundidad; y técnicas de estimación de la producción biológica (análisis de integración y concentración celular)

Biomasa de siete especies pelágicas abundantes en el mar peruano durante el verano austral 2001

Analiza la biomasa de la anchoveta, jurel caballa, bagre, vinciguerria, munida y calamar gigante. Se hizo un muestreo sistemático paralelo en transectos perpendiculares a la costa, separados 15 mn.

Distribución de nueve especies pelágicas abundantes en el mar peruano durante el verano austral 2001

Estudia el muestreo, de Tumbes a Tacna, comprendió hasta 120 mn de la costa, en transectos paralelos perpendiculares a la costa, separados 15 mn. La técnica hidroacústica se basó en la interpolación de datos. Las especies pelágicas de mayor abundancia fueron nueve: la anchoveta, la sardina, el jurel, la caballa, la samasa, el bagre, la viciguerria, la múnida, el calamar.

Aspectos generales sobre el crucero de evaluación de la merluza peruana en el verano austral 2001

En el otoño del 2000 la merluza se halló en concentraciones dispersas entre Chimbote y Puerto Pizarro, con mayor abundancia en el estrato II de la subárea D y el norte, entre Máncora y la frontera norte.

Parámetros biológico-pesqueros del krill antártico, Euphasia superba. Verano austral 2003

Analiza 19 lances de pesca en los que se capturaron muestras de krill, donde se determino la talla promedio.

Distribución y biomasa del krill euphasia superba. Expedición Perú antar XIV, verano austral 2003

Analiza el método hidroacustico en la zona comprendida entre el estrecho de Bransfield y los alrededores de la isla Elefante.

Flora planctónica en el estrecho de Bransfield y alrededores de la isla Elefante. Verano austral 2003

Estudio de la disponibilidad del alimento como un factor de contribución y abundancia del krill.

Zooplancton e ictioplanton antártico durante el verano austral 2003

Analiza los volúmenes del zooplancton e ictioplancton.

Aves antárticas y su relación con el krill. Expedición Perú antar XIV, verano austral 2003

Estudio de las aves, en forma simultanea con el barrido acústico para determinar la abundancia del krill.