skip to main content


Title: Empirical–Statistical Downscaling of Austral Summer Precipitation over South America, with a Focus on the Central Peruvian Andes and the Equatorial Amazon Basin
Abstract Precipitation is one of the most difficult variables to estimate using large-scale predictors. Over South America (SA), this task is even more challenging, given the complex topography of the Andes. Empirical–statistical downscaling (ESD) models can be used for this purpose, but such models, applicable for all of SA, have not yet been developed. To address this issue, we construct an ESD model using multiple-linear-regression techniques for the period 1982–2016 that is based on large-scale circulation indices representing tropical Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and South American climate variability, to estimate austral summer [December–February (DJF)] precipitation over SA. Statistical analyses show that the ESD model can reproduce observed precipitation anomalies over the tropical Andes (Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia), the eastern equatorial Amazon basin, and the central part of the western Argentinian Andes. On a smaller scale, the ESD model also shows good results over the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes. The ESD model reproduces anomalously dry conditions over the eastern equatorial Amazon and the wet conditions over southeastern South America (SESA) during the three extreme El Niños: 1982/83, 1997/98, and 2015/16. However, it overestimates the observed intensities over SESA. For the central Peruvian Andes as a case study, results further show that the ESD model can correctly reproduce DJF precipitation anomalies over the entire Mantaro basin during the three extreme El Niño episodes. Moreover, multiple experiments with varying predictor combinations of the ESD model corroborate the hypothesis that the interaction between the South Atlantic convergence zone and the equatorial Atlantic Ocean provoked the Amazon drought in 2015/16.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1702439 1743738
NSF-PAR ID:
10212654
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Volume:
60
Issue:
1
ISSN:
1558-8424
Page Range / eLocation ID:
65 to 85
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract South American climate is influenced by both Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) and Pacific multidecadal variability (PMV). But how they jointly affect South American precipitation and surface air temperature is not well understood. Here we analyze composite anomalies to quantify their combined impacts using observations and reanalysis data. During an AMV warm (cold) phase, PMV-induced JJA precipitation anomalies are more positive (negative) over 0°-10°S and southeastern South America, but more negative (positive) over the northern Amazon and central Brazil. PMV-induced precipitation anomalies in DJF are more positive (negative) over Northeast Brazil and southeastern South America during the warm (cold) AMV phase, but more negative (positive) over the central Amazon Basin and central-eastern Brazil. PMV’s impact on AMV-induced precipitation anomalies shows similar dipole patterns. The precipitation changes result from perturbations of the local Hadley and Walker Circulations. In JJA, PMV- and AMV-induced temperature anomalies are more positive (negative) over entire South America when the other basin is in a warm (cold) phase, but in DJF temperature anomalies are more positive (negative) only over the central Andes and central-eastern Brazil and more negative (positive) over southeastern South America and Patagonia. Over central Brazil in JJA and southern Bolivia and northern Argentina in DJF, the temperature and precipitation anomalies are negatively correlated. Our results show that the influence of Pacific and Atlantic multidecadal variability need to be considered jointly, as significant departures from the mean AMV or PMV fingerprint can occur during a cold or warm phase of the other basin’s mode. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Land‐atmosphere interactions are critical for precipitation (PPT) over South America where terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) constitutes a significant fraction of moisture for rainfall over the ecologically and socio‐economically vital Amazon (AMZ) and La Plata (LPB) river basins. We quantify the contribution of ET from AMZ and LPB to PPT over the continent with a focus on the intraseasonal time scale. Using numerical water tracers embedded in the Weather Research and Forecasting model we track the moisture originating from the two basins. Our findings indicate that approximately 40% of annual rainfall over the eastern foothills of the Andes originates as AMZ ET, and nearly 30% of rainfall over northern Argentina originates as LPB ET. Analysis of moisture transport during both phases of the dominant intraseasonal oscillation pattern over South America reveals an intraseasonal “sloshing” of LPB moisture between the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) and southeastern South America (SESA) regions. AMZ and LPB each supply approximately 6% of moisture for SACZ PPT during periods of intraseasonal enhancement (positive anomalies), highlighting the importance of moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. For the SESA region, LPB supplies 26% of the moisture for PPT during periods of intraseasonal enhancement while AMZ supplies 5%.

     
    more » « less
  3. null (Ed.)
    Global hydroclimatic changes from 1950 to 2018 are analyzed using updated data of land precipitation, streamfow, and an improved form of the Palmer Drought Severity Index. The historical changes are then compared with climate model-simulated response to external forcing to determine how much of the recent change is forced response. It is found that precipitation has increased from 1950 to 2018 over mid-high latitude Eurasia, most North America, Southeast South America, and Northwest Australia, while it has decreased over most Africa, eastern Australia, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and parts of East Asia, central South America, and the Pacifc coasts of Canada. Streamfow records largely confrm these precipitation changes. The wetting trend over Northwest Australia and Southeast South America is most pronounced in austral summer while the drying over Africa and wetting trend over mid-high latitude Eurasia are seen in all seasons. Coupled with the drying caused by rising surface temperatures, these precipitation changes have greatly increased the risk of drought over Africa, southern Europe, East Asia, eastern Australia, Northwest Canada, and southern Brazil. Global land precipitation and continental freshwater discharge show large interannual and inter-decadal variations, with negative anomalies during El Niño and following major volcanic eruptions in 1963, 1982, and 1991; whereas their decadal variations are correlated with the Interdecadal Pacifc Oscillation (IPO) with IPO’s warm phase associated with low land precipitation and continental discharge. The IPO and Atlantic multidecadal variability also dominate multidecadal variations in land aridity, accounting for 90% of the multidecadal variance. CMIP5 multi-model ensemble mean shows decreased precipitation and runoff and increased risk of drought during 1950–2018 over Southwest North America, Central America, northern and central South America (including the Amazon), southern and West Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Southeast Asia; while the northern mid-high latitudes, Southeast South America, and Northwest Australia see increased precipitation and runoff. The consistent spatial patterns between the observed changes and the model-simulated response suggest that many of the observed drying and wetting trends since 1950 may have resulted at least partly from historical external forcing. However, the drying over Southeast Asia and wetting over Northwest Australia are absent in the 21st century projections. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    During boreal winter (December–February), the South American monsoon system (SAMS) reaches its annual maximum when upper‐tropospheric westerly winds prevail over the equatorial Atlantic. Atmospheric dynamic model simulations suggest that Rossby waves generated over South America can propagate to and potentially influence weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere (NH). However, observational evidence has been absent previously. Here we focus on southeastern South American (SESA) precipitation anomalies, which can characterize intraseasonal rainfall variability of the SAMS. Since tropical “westerly duct” and convective heating are important factors for cross‐equatorial propagation of Rossby wave (CEPRW), we identify two groups of events based on the two factors. By comparing the events associated with both SESA rainfall and tropical westerlies to the events associated with tropical westerlies only, we find that an anomalous Rossby wave train is triggered by precipitation anomalies over SESA, propagates in the southwest–northeast direction, and subsequently crosses the equator. Over a period of 4 days, near‐surface temperature over northwestern Africa and western Europe becomes warmer, accompanied by increased surface downward longwave radiation and precipitable water. The equatorward propagating Eliassen–Palm flux anomalies originated from SESA support the evidence of CEPRW. Simulations using a time‐dependent linear barotropic model forced by prescribed divergence anomalies over SESA further confirm that SESA rainfall can influence the NH weather patterns through CEPRW. Knowledge of this study will help us better understand and model interhemispheric teleconnections over the American–Atlantic–African/European sector.

     
    more » « less
  5. The interannual variability and trends of sea surface temperature (SST) around southern South America are studied from 1982 to 2017 using monthly values of the Optimally Interpolation SST version 2 gridded database. Mid-latitude (30°–50°S) regions in the eastern South Pacific and western South Atlantic present moderate to intense warming (~0.4°C decade −1 ), while south of 50°S the region around southern South America presents moderate cooling (~ −0.3°C decade −1 ). Two areas of statistically significant trends of SST anomalies (SSTa) with opposite sign are found on the Patagonian Shelf over the southwest South Atlantic: a warming area delimited between 42 and 45°S (Northern Patagonian Shelf; NPS), and a cooling area between 49 and 52°S (Southern Patagonian Shelf; SPS). Between 1982 and 2017 the warming rate has been 0.15 ± 0.01°C decade −1 representing an increase of 0.52°C at NPS, and the cooling rate has been –0.12 ± 0.01°C decade −1 representing a decrease of 0.42°C at SPS. On both regions, the largest trends are observed during 2008–2017 (0.35 ± 0.02°C decade −1 at NPS and –0.27 ± 0.03°C decade −1 at SPS), while the trends in 1982–2007 are non-significant, indicating the record-length SSTa trends are mostly associated with the variability observed during the past 10 years of the record. The spectra of the records present significant variance at interannual time scales, centered at about 80 months (~6 years). The observed variability of SSTa is studied in connection with atmospheric forcing (zonal and meridional wind components, wind speed, wind stress curl and surface heat fluxes). During 1982–2007, the local meridional wind explains 25–30% of the total variance at NPS and SPS on interannual time scales. During 2008–2017, the SSTa at NPS is significantly anticorrelated with the local zonal wind ( r = –0.85), while at SPS it is significantly anticorrelated with the meridional wind ( r = –0.61). Our results show that a substantial fraction of the interannual variability of SSTa around southern South America can be described by the first three empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes which explain 28, 16, and 12% of the variance, respectively. The variability of the three EOF principal components time series is associated with the combined variability of El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode. 
    more » « less