University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Using a convection-permitting model for precipitation recycling analysis: A study over South America

Claros Chagua, Erick Kevin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129640

Description

Title
Using a convection-permitting model for precipitation recycling analysis: A study over South America
Author(s)
Claros Chagua, Erick Kevin
Issue Date
2025-05-07
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
  • Dominguez, Francina
  • Schmidt, Arthur R
Department of Study
Civil & Environmental Eng
Discipline
Civil Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
  • convection-permitting models
  • precipitation recycling
  • South America
Abstract
Convection-permitting models (CPMs) have demonstrated improved representation of precipitation compared to non-CPMs. Therefore, more accurate estimates of precipitation recycling and moisture contributions can reasonably be expected as well. Using a one-year WRF-WVT simulation over the Amazon Basin, we show that substantial differences arise between CPM and non-CPM recycling estimates. Notably, the CPM shows a recycling ratio over the Central Andes near 50 %, a feature not captured by the non-CPM. However, the high computational cost of CPMs makes them impractical for climate-scale recycling studies. To address this, we present a revised version of the 2L-DRM, which replicates the WRF-WVT's estimates at a fraction of the computational cost and can be applied to conventional CPM outputs, currently available for several continents. Using this model, we perform a simulation (2000-2021) over South America, considering 15 continental and 4 oceanic source regions, and estimate for each continental region the fraction of precipitation originating as evaporation from these sources.
Graduation Semester
2025-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129640
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Erick Kevin Claros Chagua

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