Temperature Variability over South America
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2009
Keywords
Temperature, South America, Climate variability, Trends, ENSO
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI2551.1
Abstract
The variation of air temperature at 2 m above the earth’s surface in South America (SA) between 1948 and 2007 is investigated primarily using the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis. In December–February (austral summer), the majority of SA has a mean temperature between 21° and 24°C during 1948–75, and for 1976–2007 the mean temperature is above 24°C. In June–August (austral winter), warmer temperatures are observed in the tropical region in the recent period. The results indicate that Northeast Brazil (NEB) and central Brazil are warmer in the more recent period. In the last seven years (2001–07) compared to the earlier periods, greater warming is noted in the tropical SA region, mainly in NEB and over the North Atlantic Ocean, and cooling is observed in part of the subtropical SA region. Supporting evidence for the warming in Brazil is given through analyses of station data and observational data. The results presented here indicate that the climate change over SA is likely not predominantly a result of variations in El Niño–Southern Oscillation (the most important coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomenon to produce climate variability over SA). Instead, the climate changes likely occur as a response to other natural variability of the climate and/or may be a result of human activity. However, even without ascertaining the specific causes, the most important finding in this work is to demonstrate that a change in the temperature patterns of SA occurred between 1948 and 2007.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Climate, v. 22, issue 22, p. 5854-5869
Scholar Commons Citation
Collins, Jennifer M.; Rodrigues Chaves, Rosane; and da Silva Marques, Valdo, "Temperature Variability over South America" (2009). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 164.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/164
