Thermodynamic Structure of Convective Activity at WET-AMC/LBA Sites and Eta Model Validation

.The cumulus convection exhibit distinct characteristics depending on season and the region, therefore the thermodynamic profile of the convective systems over the South America may have differences in comparison to systems in other parts of the world. The present work is aimed at determining the typical thermodynamic profile during convective activity over the area of Rondônia for January-February/1999 WET-AMC/LBA Campaign and comparison with the Regional Eta Model output. Convection during this period was characterized by parameters, such as: cloud base, cloud top and freezing level, saturation depression and lapse-rate with cloud, CAPE and other stability indices, precipitation water, winds and wind shear. Temporal evolution of these parameters will be shown to indicate the correlation among each other. Composite of the vertical schedule pre-during- and after-convective activity is constructed to enhance common features of convection lifetime. Results are shown for 3 sites: Ouro Preto d'Oeste (Fazenda Nossa Senhora), Reserva Biológica Jaru and Rolim de Moura. These parameters are useful for adjustment of cumulus parameterization scheme to improve precipitation forecast in numerical atmospheric models. The Regional Eta Model, which produces operational forecast over South America, uses Betts-Miller scheme to represent cumulus convection. Convective structure predicted by the Eta Model is validated against observation parameters