Changes in Average Annual Precipitation in Argentina’s Pampa Region and Their Possible Causes

Climate

Silvia Pérez¹  Eduardo Sierra¹  Fernando Momo²  Marcelo Massobrio¹ 

[1]Department Natural Resources and Environment, School of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453-C1417DSE, Argentina

[2] E-Mails:

[3]Institute of Sciences, National University of General Sarmiento, Juan Gutierrez 1150, Los Polvorines, Buenos Aires 1613, Argentina

[4] E-Mail:

关键词: agro-climatology;    variability;    segmentation of hydrometeorological time series;    teleconnections;    climate indices;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cli3010150

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Changes in annual rainfall in five sub-regions of the Argentine Pampa Region (Rolling, Central, Mesopotamian, Flooding and Southern) were examined for the period 1941 to 2010 using data from representative locations in each sub-region. Dubious series were adjusted by means of a homogeneity test and changes in mean value were evaluated using a hydrometeorological time series segmentation method. In addition, an association was sought between shifts in mean annual rainfall and changes in large-scale atmospheric pressure systems, as measured by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). The results indicate that the Western Pampas (Central and Southern) are more vulnerable to abrupt changes in average annual rainfall than the Eastern Pampas (Mesopotamian, Rolling and Flooding). Their vulnerability is further increased by their having the lowest average rainfall. The AMO showed significant negative correlations with all sub-regions, while the PDO and SOI showed significant positive and negative correlations respectively with the Central, Flooding and Southern Pampa. The fact that the PDO and AMO are going through the phases of their cycles that tend to reduce rainfall in much of the Pampas helps explain the lower rainfall recorded in the Western Pampas sub-regions in recent years. This has had a significant impact on agriculture and the environment.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.