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Negrón-Juárez et al. and Their Pioneering Study on Amazon Windthrows2 min read

by Marilyn Saarni on March 14, 2017

Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions Program Domain Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division Climate Sciences Department Research Highlight
Study area. (a) Landsat scene (P231R062) of our study area—a 3.4 × 104 km2 region in Central Amazon; (b) climatology (base period 1971–2000) of rainfall and temperature over our study area. The climatology was obtained using rainfall data from the Global Precipitation Climatological Centre and temperature data from the Climatic Research Unit (Fig 1 of paper)

Study area. (a) Landsat scene (P231R062) of our study area—a 3.4 × 104 km2 region in Central Amazon; (b) climatology (base period 1971–2000) of rainfall and temperature over our study area. The climatology was obtained using rainfall data from the Global Precipitation Climatological Centre and temperature data from the Climatic Research Unit (Fig 1 of paper)

Robinson Negrón-Juárez and his co-authors have now published the first study on windthrow variability, focusing on Central Amazonia. Windthrows destroy large swaths of trees, play a significant role in forest structures and dynamics, and affect carbon storage. In this study the co-authors present the seasonal and interannual variability of windthrows, and discuss the potential meteorological factors associated with this variability.

Negrón-Juárez, R.I., H. S. Jenkins, C. F. M. Raupp, W. J. Riley, L. M. Kueppers, D. Magnabosco Marra, G. H. P. Ribeiro, M. T. Monterio, L. A. Candido, J. Q. Chambers, N. Higuch (2017). Windthrow Variability in Central Amazonia. Atmosphere 8(2), 28, doi:10.3390/atmos8020028

They used Landsat images for the 1998–2010 time period to detect windthrows, which were identified based on their spectral characteristics and shape. Meteorological data were used to investigate the causes of windthrows. They found that windthrows occurred every year throughout Central Amazonia, but were more frequent from September through February. Organized convective activity associated with multicell storms embedded in mesoscale convective systems, such as northerly squall lines (which move from northeast to southwest) and southerly squall lines (which move from southwest to northeast), can cause windthrows. They also found that southerly squall lines occurred more frequently than the previously reported ~50 year interval. At the interannual scale, they did not find an association between ENSO and windthrows.

Given that windthrow-related tree mortality is not currently represented in Earth System Models (ESMs), this study shows that inclusion of windthrows in ESMs could reduce the uncertainties of climate prediction.

This research was supported as part of the Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments-Tropics and the Regional and Global Climate Modeling, both funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, under contract DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Windthrow photos are credited to Ms. Raquel Araujo, who used an unmanned aerial system to photograph. This windthow (2.88S, 60.28W) occurred in 2015 close to the city of Taruma in Central Amazonia. One of the “dots” below is author Robinson Negrón-Juárez.

Photos cr. Ms.Raquel Araujo, using a drone. This windthow (2.88S, 60.28W) occurred in 2015 close to the city of Taruma in Central Amazonia.

 

News & Events

New EESA research explores impact of land-use policy on California’s terrestrial carbon and greenhouse gas budget3 min read

January 12, 2021

The 28 million acres of natural and working lands across California provide a unique opportunity to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction goals through various land-use strategies, such as expanding urban forest areas or restoring woodlands. However, the need to mitigate wildfire severity is also a critical priority for California, and one that can increase emissions…

Impacts of Climate Change on Our Water and Energy Systems: It’s Complicated5 min read

January 11, 2021

As the planet continues to warm, the twin challenges of diminishing water supply and growing energy demand are intensifying. But because water and energy are inextricably linked, as we try to adapt to one challenge – say, by getting more water via desalination or water recycling – we may be worsening the other challenge by…

New Study: Are Drylands Getting Drier?1 min read

January 5, 2021

EESA visiting postdoctoral fellow Sha Zhou led a recent study exploring why climate models do not project drylands will become substantially drier with climate change as scientists have long believed. A paper published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change, “Soil moisture-atmosphere feedbacks mitigate declining water availability in drylands,” describes the importance of long-term changes…

Stunning Visuals Tell a Fluid Story of Water in the Upper Gunnison River Basin1 min read

December 23, 2020

As part of a DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI), Jeremy Snyder authored “Rocky Mountain Water: The stories of Natural, Impacted, and Managed water in the Upper Gunnison River Basin”. Using the ArcGIS StoryMaps platform and stunning visuals, the story focuses on the Colorado Upper Gunnison River Basin—home to the Watershed Function SFA’s study site, the…

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