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Article

Trends of Climate Extremes and Their Relationships with Tropical Ocean Temperatures in South America

by
Luiz Octávio Fabrício dos Santos
1,
Nadja Gomes Machado
2,
Carlos Alexandre Santos Querino
3 and
Marcelo Sacardi Biudes
4,*
1
Postgraduate Program in Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 2367 Fernando Corrêa da Costa Ave., Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil
2
Federal Institute of Mato Grosso, Juliano da Costa Marques Ave., Cuiabá 78050-560, MT, Brazil
3
Institute of Agriculture and Environment Education, Federal University of Amazonas, 786 29 de Agosto St., Humaitá 69800-000, AM, Brazil
4
Institute of Physics, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 2367 Fernando Corrêa da Costa Ave., Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Earth 2024, 5(4), 844-872; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5040043
Submission received: 22 September 2024 / Revised: 1 November 2024 / Accepted: 7 November 2024 / Published: 11 November 2024

Abstract

South America has experienced significant changes in climate patterns over recent decades, particularly in terms of precipitation and temperature extremes. This study analyzes trends in climate extremes from 1979 to 2020 across South America, focusing on their relationships with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The analysis uses precipitation and temperature indices, such as the number of heavy rainfall days (R10mm, R20mm, R30mm), total annual precipitation (PRCPTOT), hottest day (TXx), and heatwave duration (WSDI), to assess changes over time. The results show a widespread decline in total annual precipitation across the continent, although some regions, particularly in the northeast and southeast, experienced an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events. Extreme temperatures have also risen consistently across South America, with an increase in both the frequency and duration of heat extremes, indicating an ongoing warming trend. The study also highlights the significant role of SST anomalies in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in driving these climate extremes. Strong correlations were found between Pacific SST anomalies (Niño 3.4 region) and extreme precipitation events in the northern and southern regions of South America. Similarly, Atlantic SST anomalies, especially in the Northern Atlantic (TNA), exhibited notable impacts on temperature extremes, particularly heatwaves. These findings underscore the complex interactions between SST anomalies and climate variability in South America, providing crucial insights into the dynamics of climate extremes in the region. Understanding these relationships is essential for developing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies in response to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes.
Keywords: climate extreme; atmospheric field analysis; climate change; trend analysis climate extreme; atmospheric field analysis; climate change; trend analysis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

dos Santos, L.O.F.; Machado, N.G.; Querino, C.A.S.; Biudes, M.S. Trends of Climate Extremes and Their Relationships with Tropical Ocean Temperatures in South America. Earth 2024, 5, 844-872. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5040043

AMA Style

dos Santos LOF, Machado NG, Querino CAS, Biudes MS. Trends of Climate Extremes and Their Relationships with Tropical Ocean Temperatures in South America. Earth. 2024; 5(4):844-872. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5040043

Chicago/Turabian Style

dos Santos, Luiz Octávio Fabrício, Nadja Gomes Machado, Carlos Alexandre Santos Querino, and Marcelo Sacardi Biudes. 2024. "Trends of Climate Extremes and Their Relationships with Tropical Ocean Temperatures in South America" Earth 5, no. 4: 844-872. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5040043

APA Style

dos Santos, L. O. F., Machado, N. G., Querino, C. A. S., & Biudes, M. S. (2024). Trends of Climate Extremes and Their Relationships with Tropical Ocean Temperatures in South America. Earth, 5(4), 844-872. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5040043

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