Dinâmica sazonal da água atmosférica sob diferentes condições climáticas no Ceará

Abstract

This dissertation deepens the understanding of the dynamics of precipitable water in Ceará, using data from 17 automatic meteorological stations from 2003 to 2022. Data analysis revealed distinct patterns of distribution of precipitable water in the coastal, mountain and hinterland regions, influenced by factors such as atmospheric pressure, temperatures, relative humidity and specific humidity. The mountainous area presented the highest values of precipitable water, driven by conditions of higher humidity and lower temperature. The coast, in turn, exhibited intermediate values, due to the influence of maritime humidity. The backlands, characterized by high temperatures and low humidity, presented the lowest values. The analysis of specific humidity, fundamental for understanding precipitable water, revealed considerable seasonal variations, with higher values in autumn and lower values in winter and spring, highlighting the state's climatic diversity. The station located on the coast (Acaraú) presented the highest specific humidity (17.51 g/kg), while the station in the hinterland (Aiuaba) presented the lowest (9.18 g/kg), highlighting the influence of geographic location on the dynamics specific humidity. The Harrison model for estimating precipitable water proved to be useful for predicting climate events and monitoring extreme events, presenting higher values in the mountains (59787.0 mm/year) and on the coast (34419.5 mm/year), in comparison to the sertão (21973.0 mm/year). Temporal trends in precipitable water varied depending on climatic conditions. Coastal regions (Acaraú and Fortaleza) and mountains (Guaramiranga and Tianguá) presented higher values of precipitable water, while the values decreased as one entered the hinterland of Ceará. The station located in Morada Nova presented a different pattern than that found in Crateús, maintaining high volume in all months. The research results corroborate the importance of understanding atmospheric water resources and water dynamics in the lower troposphere, contributing to a more comprehensive view of the hydrological cycle in Ceará. The investigation highlights the need for future studies with a greater number of meteorological stations, improving interpolation and refining specific humidity data for more precise spatialization, further deepening the understanding of the dynamics of precipitable water in the state.