WIND AVERAGES FEATURES ABOVE AND BELOW OF THE FOREST CANOPY DURING GOAMAZON IN AN EXPERIMENTAL SITE IN THE AMAZON

The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal evolution of average characteristics of the vertical profiles of speed and direction above and within of the forest canopy at the Cuieiras experimental site, located about 100 km from the Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil. We used about 10 months of half-hourly averaged data from 10 sonic anemometers installed at different levels above and within the forest canopy during GoAmazon project in 2014. We found that the vertical wind speed profile varied with the various layers above and below the forest canopy, describing an S-shape type, a form determined by physical obstructions imposed by vertical heterogeneity of the canopy. The predominant wind directions were not constant with height, suggesting that very local circulations can influence the subcanopy flow.