Does a Monsoon Climate Exist over South America?

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Abstract
The climatology and the basic state of the summertime circulation and rainfall over South America are studied using assimilation products from the data assimilation system of Goddard Earth Observing System-1 (GEOS-1) and satellite-derived rainfall. Results indicate the existence of a regional summer monsoon circulation regime induced by strong diabatic heating over the subtropical South American highland centered at the Altiplano Plateau. Sensitivity of the results to the assimilation scheme is tested by comparing that with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis and with satellite rainfall estimates. Results show general agreement between the model produced rainfall anomaly and the satellite estimates, as well as consistency between the basic circulation features in the GEOS-1 and the NCEP reanalyses. A case study of 1989–90 South American summer monsoon (SASM) reveals the following characteristics. 1) In late spring, the onset of SASM is signaled by an abrupt merging... Abstract The climatology and the basic state of the summertime circulation and rainfall over South America are studied using assimilation products from the data assimilation system of Goddard Earth Observing System-1 (GEOS-1) and satellite-derived rainfall. Results indicate the existence of a regional summer monsoon circulation regime induced by strong diabatic heating over the subtropical South American highland centered at the Altiplano Plateau. Sensitivity of the results to the assimilation scheme is tested by comparing that with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis and with satellite rainfall estimates. Results show general agreement between the model produced rainfall anomaly and the satellite estimates, as well as consistency between the basic circulation features in the GEOS-1 and the NCEP reanalyses. A case study of 1989–90 South American summer monsoon (SASM) reveals the following characteristics. 1) In late spring, the onset of SASM is signaled by an abrupt merging...

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