Evaluation of climate simulations produced with the Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model version 1.2

This paper presents an evaluation of climate simulations produced by the Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model version 1.2 (BAM-1.2) of the Center for Weather Forecast and Climate Studies (CPTEC). The model was run over the 1975-2017 period at two spatial resolutions, corresponding to ~180 and ~100 km, both with 42 vertical levels, following most of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) protocol. In this protocol, observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are used as boundary conditions for the atmospheric model. Four ensemble members were run for each of the two resolutions. A series of diagnostics was computed for assessing the model's ability to represent the top of the atmosphere (TOA) radiation, atmospheric temperature, circulation and precipitation climatological features. The representation of precipitation interannual variability, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) precipitation teleconnections, the Madden and Julian Oscillation (MJO) and daily precipitation characteristics was also assessed. The model at both resolutions reproduced many observed temperature, atmospheric circulation and precipitation climatological features, despite several identified biases. The model atmosphere was found to be more transparent than the observations, leading to misrepresentation of cloud-radiation interactions. The net cloud radiative forcing, which produces a cooling effect on the global mean climate at the TOA, was well represented by the model. This was found to be due to the compensation between both weaker longwave cloud radiative forcing (LWCRF) and shortwave cloud radiative forcing (SWCRF) in the model compared to the observations. The model capability to represent inter-annual precipitation variability at both resolutions was found to be linked to the adequate representation of ENSO teleconnections. However, the model produced weaker than observed convective activity associated with the MJO. Light daily precipitation over the southeast of South America and other climatologically similar regions was diagnosed to be overestimated, and heavy daily precipitation underestimated by the model. Increasing spatial resolution helped to slightly reduce some of the diagnosed biases. The performed evaluation identified model aspects that need to be improved. These include the representation of polar continental surface and sea ice albedo, stratospheric ozone, low marine clouds, and daily precipitation features, which were found to be larger and last longer than the observed features

A perspective for advancing climate prediction services in Brazil

The Climate Science for Service Partnership Brazil (CSSP-Brazil) project provides Brazil and UK partners the opportunity to address important challenges faced by the climate modeling community, including the need to develop subseasonal and seasonal prediction and climate projection services. This paper provides an overview of the climate modeling and prediction research conducted through CSSP-Brazil within the context of a framework to advance climate prediction services in Brazil that includes a research-to-services (R2S) and a services-to-research (S2R) feedback pathway. The paper also highlights plans to advance scientific understanding and capability to produce beneficial climate knowledge and new products to improve climate prediction services to support decisions in various industries in Brazil. Policy-relevant outcomes from climate modeling and prediction exercises illustrated in this paper include supporting stakeholders with climate information provided from weeks to months ahead for (a) improving water management strategies for human consumption, navigation, and agricultural and electricity production; (b) defining crop variety and calendars for food production; and (c) diversifying energy production with alternatives to hydropower

Chemical composition and histochemistry of Sphagneticola trilobata essential oil

Anatomical and histochemical investigations of Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski, Asteraceae, secretory structures in leaves and stems and the seasonal variation of essential oils were carried out. Histochemical techniques enabled the specific location of the essential oil accumulation in the internal (canals) and external structures (trichomes). Histochemical analysis showed that the secretory trichomes produced steroids. The highest yield was obtained from plants collected in winter, when it was registered low temperature and precipitation. The essential oil was characterized by high percentage of hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes, hydrocarbon monoterpenes and low levels of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The major components were germacrene D (11.9-35.8%), α-phellandrene (1.4-28.5%), α-pinene (7.3-23.8%), E-caryophyllene (4.6-19.0%), bicyclogermacrene (6.0-17.0%), limonene (1.8-15.1%) and α-humulene (4.0-11.6%). The percentage of most of the individual constituents present in S. trilobata essential oil changed significantly during the months

Sensitivity in Dental Bleaching and the Use of Anti-Inflammatory Agents

This study discusses the role of anti-inflammatory medications in reducing the sensitivity caused by tooth bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the active principle in bleaching agents, reacts with dental enamel on contact and produces oxygen, in the form of free radicals, and water. Because of the low molecular weight of free radicals, as well as the porous nature and selective permeability of enamel, the free radicals pass into dentin and through the dentinal tubules, to the pulp. In response to these stimuli, defense cells in the pulp tissue promote the release of inflammatory mediators, resulting in short-term tooth sensitivity that may be experienced as acute pain. Anti-inflammatory medications will reduce the inflammatory response, as these drugs act on the production pathways of the mediators. Drugs such as ibuprofen and etoricoxib should be thus effective in reducing tooth sensitivity. Among the medications used, however, only ibuprofen seems to reduce tooth sensitivity from bleaching

Observed and simulated local climate responses to tropical deforestation

Tropical deforestation has local and regional effects on climate, but the sign and magnitude of these effects are still poorly constrained. Here we used satellite observations to evaluate the local land surface temperature and precipitation response to tropical deforestation in historical simulations from 24 CMIP6 models. We found tropical forest loss leads to an observed local dry season warming and reduced wet and dry season precipitation across the range of scales (0.25°-2°) analysed. At the largest scale analysed (2°), we observed a warming of 0.018 ± 0.001 °C per percentage point of forest loss (°C % ^−1 ), broadly captured in the multi-model mean response of 0.017 ± 0.005 °C % ^−1 . The multi-model mean correctly simulates reduced precipitation due to forest loss in the dry season but simulates increased precipitation due to forest loss in the wet season, opposite to the observed response. We found that the simulated dry season surface temperature and precipitation changes due to forest loss depend on the simulated surface albedo change, with less warming and less drying in models with greater increases in surface albedo due to forest loss. Increased recognition of the local and regional climate benefits of tropical forests is needed to support sustainable land use policy

Diversidades

Os artigos expostos trazem grande riqueza aos debates, cada vez mais necessários, frente à realidade que se impõe a todas as pessoas que prezam pelo livre pensamento, pelo respeito às diversidades e por uma sociedade que preze por uma convivência pautada pela civilidade e pela paz. É imperativo e urgente que esses valores pautem um Brasil que supere sua história democrática irregular e intermitente

Assessing the representation of South American monsoon features in Brazil and UK climate model simulations

This paper assesses how well the CPTEC/INPE Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model (BAM-1.2) and the atmospheric component of the UK Met Office Hadley Centre Global Environment Model (HadGEM3-GC3.1) represent the main South American monsoon features. Climatological (1981–2010) ensemble means of Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP)-type climate simulations are evaluated. The assessment evaluated the models’ ability to represent the South America austral summer and winter precipitation contrast and associated circulation, key South American monsoon system elements, the association between south-east Brazil and South America precipitation, and climatological (1997/1998 to 2013/2014) distributions of rainy season onset and demise dates over south-east Brazil (15°S–25°S, 40°W–50°W) and the core monsoon region (10°S–20°S, 45°W–55°W). Despite some identified deficiencies, both models depict the monsoon region and represent the main features, including (1) the north-west–south-east precipitation band and associated ascending motion over central South America; (2) the upper-level Bolivian High and the north-east South America trough during the summer; (3) the lower-level South Atlantic and Pacific subtropical anti-cyclones and (4) the low-level jet east of the Andes. Both models represent upper-level divergence and lower-level convergence over the core monsoon region, and upper-level convergence and lower-level divergence over the Pacific and Atlantic anti-cyclones associated with the regional Walker circulation during the pre-monsoon (spring) and peak monsoon (summer) seasons. Convection over South America is weaker in BAM-1.2 than observed, consistent with continental precipitation deficit. The models reproduce the dipole-like precipitation pattern between south-east Brazil and south-eastern South America during the austral summer but overestimate these patterns spatial extent over the South Atlantic. Both models simulate the main observed climatological features of rainy season onset and demise dates for the two above defined investigated regions. HadGEM3 overestimates onset dates interannual variability. These results can contribute towards understanding climate and land-use change implications for environmental sustainability and for recommending climate adaptation strategies

O direito fundamental ao trabalho decente sob a ótica da erradicação do trabalho infantil e proteção do adolescente.

O texto aborda o trabalho decente como direito fundamental, com ênfase na situação juvenil, na medida em que pontua a necessidade de erradicação do trabalho infantil como forma de alcança-lo, aliado à medidas de proteção dos adolescentes no mercado de trabalho.The issue of child labor is a matter of concern worldwide, especially in view of its harmful consequences, particularly as regards the perpetuation of the cycle of poverty and school drop-out