The Principal Investigator will attack two research problems dealing with convective systems over the Amazon basin. The first is an attempt at estimation of evapotranspiration using satellite-based techniques. Evapotranspiration in the rain forest is an important component of the hydrologic cycle, but is inadequately understood in this region. This portion of the research is a continuation of work begun under a previous award. The second objective is to investigate the characteristics of convection and compare these to environmental conditions. While this has been done extensively in North America, similar studies have been lacking in South America. Such contrasting studies are useful for understanding the important physical factors for convection on both sides of the equator. The PI will use a combination of ground-based and satellite data in this research.//
