DYNAMICS OF GENERATION OF EXTREME PRECIPITATION IN THE NORTHERN OF PERU

Abstract

This article studies the influential factors in the occurrence of extreme rainfall in the northern Peru. The favorable conditions are analyzed under the following hypothesis: warming up of the sea surface temperature (SST), the southward movement of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the advection of humidity transferred from the east part of the Andes. Extreme rainfall has been periodically observed, it occurs during El Niño and non El Niño events. The main goal is to quantify the critical threshold for this occurrence. These limits will be associated to the teleconnections of the SST, ITCZ and winds. The generation of a warm "nucleus" of SST facilitates the creation of convergence "nucleus" in low levels due to positive temperature advection. It may weaken the thermal inversion and raise the atmospheric instability. To explain the dynamics of generation of extreme precipitation, the relationship of these three important factors: SST, ITCZ and winds, is analyzed using MODIS, GOES, and simulation of winds with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The results of this study will help to alert extreme rainfall events