Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Study of Intraseasonal Temperature Variability in Southeastern South America

Gustavo Naumann National Scientific and Technological Research Council (CONICET), and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Climate Risk Management Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy

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Walter M. Vargas National Scientific and Technological Research Council (CONICET), and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00482.1
Page(s):
5892–5903
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Abstract

The main goal of this work was to conduct an intraseasonal climate variability analysis using wavelet and principal component analysis over a southeastern South American daily maximum and minimum temperature series from the end of the nineteenth until the beginning of the twenty-first century. The analysis showed that there is a definite and coherent signal in the intraseasonal maximum and minimum temperatures. The most noticeable signal was observed during the winter months. The frequency of the intraseasonal signal was more complex for the maximum temperature, and in some stations, it displayed a bimodal distribution. A defined pattern that described a coherent variability between 30 and 60 days throughout the entire region was observed. This pattern potentially allows classification of the regional variability and adjustments to the temperature forecasting models on a daily basis.

Corresponding author address: Gustavo Naumann, Climate Risk Management Unit, Institute for Environment & Sustainability (IES), Joint Research Centre - European Commission, Via E. Fermi, 2749 - TP 280, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy. E-mail: gustavo.naumann@jrc.ec.europa.eu

Abstract

The main goal of this work was to conduct an intraseasonal climate variability analysis using wavelet and principal component analysis over a southeastern South American daily maximum and minimum temperature series from the end of the nineteenth until the beginning of the twenty-first century. The analysis showed that there is a definite and coherent signal in the intraseasonal maximum and minimum temperatures. The most noticeable signal was observed during the winter months. The frequency of the intraseasonal signal was more complex for the maximum temperature, and in some stations, it displayed a bimodal distribution. A defined pattern that described a coherent variability between 30 and 60 days throughout the entire region was observed. This pattern potentially allows classification of the regional variability and adjustments to the temperature forecasting models on a daily basis.

Corresponding author address: Gustavo Naumann, Climate Risk Management Unit, Institute for Environment & Sustainability (IES), Joint Research Centre - European Commission, Via E. Fermi, 2749 - TP 280, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy. E-mail: gustavo.naumann@jrc.ec.europa.eu
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