Master's student Verônica Versieux, together with Professor Marcos Heil Costa, recently published a paper in Atmosphere titled Local Evapotranspiration Is the Only Relevant Source of Moisture at the Onset of the Rainy Season in South America.

Abstract: The South American Monsoon System, which transports moisture from Amazonia to Central-West Brazil, is an important moisture source for the summer rainy season in this region. While local evapotranspiration also contributes to the atmospheric moisture supply, the balance between local and remote sources during the onset of the rainy season remains uncertain. Our research aimed to quantify the role of local evapotranspiration in initiating the rainy season in Central-West Brazil. By utilizing data from various sources, such as remote sensing (MODIS), modern reanalysis (ECMWF’s ERA5), and composite products of rainfall (CHIRPS), and analyzing them in a comparative way, we conclusively found that local evapotranspiration is the only relevant source of moisture to the atmosphere during the dry-to-wet season transition, preceding the establishment of the monsoon system.

To check out the results and the full study, click here!

Publication details for citation:
VERSIEUX, Verônica; COSTA, Marcos Heil. Local Evapotranspiration Is the Only Relevant Source of Moisture at the Onset of the Rainy Season in South America. Atmosphere, v. 15, n. 8, p. 932, 2024. DOI: 10.3390/atmos15080932