Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020
Between 23 and 25 January 2020, the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH) in Brazil experienced 32 natural disasters, which affected 90,000 people, resulted in 13 fatalities, and caused economic damages of approximately USD 250 million. This study aims to describe the synoptic and mesoscale c...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Thaís Aparecida Cortez Pinto Enrique Vieira Mattos Michelle Simões Reboita Diego Oliveira de Souza Paula S. S. Oda Fabrina Bolzan Martins Thiago Souza Biscaro Glauber Willian de Souza Ferreira |
| author_facet | Thaís Aparecida Cortez Pinto Enrique Vieira Mattos Michelle Simões Reboita Diego Oliveira de Souza Paula S. S. Oda Fabrina Bolzan Martins Thiago Souza Biscaro Glauber Willian de Souza Ferreira |
| author_sort | Thaís Aparecida Cortez Pinto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Between 23 and 25 January 2020, the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH) in Brazil experienced 32 natural disasters, which affected 90,000 people, resulted in 13 fatalities, and caused economic damages of approximately USD 250 million. This study aims to describe the synoptic and mesoscale conditions that triggered these natural disasters in the MRBH and the physical properties of the associated clouds and precipitation. To achieve this, we analyzed data from various sources, including natural disaster records from the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), GOES-16 satellite imagery, soil moisture data from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite mission, ERA5 reanalysis, reflectivity from weather radar, and lightning data from the Lightning Location System. The South Atlantic Convergence Zone, coupled with a low-pressure system off the southeast coast of Brazil, was the predominant synoptic pattern responsible for creating favorable conditions for precipitation during the studied period. Clouds and precipitating cells, with cloud-top temperatures below −65 °C, over several days contributed to the high precipitation volumes and lightning activity. Prolonged rainfall, with a maximum of 240 mm day<sup>−1</sup> and 48 mm h<sup>−1</sup>, combined with the region’s soil characteristics, enhanced water infiltration and was critical in triggering and intensifying natural disasters. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring atmospheric conditions in conjunction with soil moisture over an extended period to provide additional information for mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-249259cabca34af5847696ff1279f0aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-249259cabca34af5847696ff1279f0aa2025-01-24T13:22:02ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-0116110210.3390/atmos16010102Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020Thaís Aparecida Cortez Pinto0Enrique Vieira Mattos1Michelle Simões Reboita2Diego Oliveira de Souza3Paula S. S. Oda4Fabrina Bolzan Martins5Thiago Souza Biscaro6Glauber Willian de Souza Ferreira7Natural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilNatural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilNatural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilNational Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (CEMADEN), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, BrazilPost Graduate Program in Environmental and Hydrological Studies, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilNatural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilCenter for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Cachoeira Paulista 12630-000, SP, BrazilNatural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá 37500-903, MG, BrazilBetween 23 and 25 January 2020, the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH) in Brazil experienced 32 natural disasters, which affected 90,000 people, resulted in 13 fatalities, and caused economic damages of approximately USD 250 million. This study aims to describe the synoptic and mesoscale conditions that triggered these natural disasters in the MRBH and the physical properties of the associated clouds and precipitation. To achieve this, we analyzed data from various sources, including natural disaster records from the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), GOES-16 satellite imagery, soil moisture data from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite mission, ERA5 reanalysis, reflectivity from weather radar, and lightning data from the Lightning Location System. The South Atlantic Convergence Zone, coupled with a low-pressure system off the southeast coast of Brazil, was the predominant synoptic pattern responsible for creating favorable conditions for precipitation during the studied period. Clouds and precipitating cells, with cloud-top temperatures below −65 °C, over several days contributed to the high precipitation volumes and lightning activity. Prolonged rainfall, with a maximum of 240 mm day<sup>−1</sup> and 48 mm h<sup>−1</sup>, combined with the region’s soil characteristics, enhanced water infiltration and was critical in triggering and intensifying natural disasters. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring atmospheric conditions in conjunction with soil moisture over an extended period to provide additional information for mitigating the impacts of natural disasters.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/102natural disasterssynoptic analysismesoscale featuresthunderstormsMinas Gerais state |
| spellingShingle | Thaís Aparecida Cortez Pinto Enrique Vieira Mattos Michelle Simões Reboita Diego Oliveira de Souza Paula S. S. Oda Fabrina Bolzan Martins Thiago Souza Biscaro Glauber Willian de Souza Ferreira Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 Atmosphere natural disasters synoptic analysis mesoscale features thunderstorms Minas Gerais state |
| title | Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 |
| title_full | Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 |
| title_fullStr | Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 |
| title_short | Synoptic and Mesoscale Atmospheric Patterns That Triggered the Natural Disasters in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in January 2020 |
| title_sort | synoptic and mesoscale atmospheric patterns that triggered the natural disasters in the metropolitan region of belo horizonte brazil in january 2020 |
| topic | natural disasters synoptic analysis mesoscale features thunderstorms Minas Gerais state |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/102 |
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