Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-371
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-371
06 Aug 2018
 | 06 Aug 2018
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Spatial distribution and trends of different precipitation variability indices based on daily data in Northern Chile between 1966 and 2015

Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, Paulina I. Ponce-Philimon, Jose A. Guijarro, and Pablo Sarricolea

Abstract. Northern Chile is one of the most arid regions in the world, as includes the Atacama Desert, but in high altitudes, precipitation is recorded in a very constricted season every year. This makes that water availability is one of the main concerns for policymakers. Accumulated rainfall presents very high differences from one year to another, and this makes that climate projections have a very low degree of confidence in this area. So to this region it is more interesting to study the irregularity of precipitation itself instead of the accumulated rainfall values. According to daily data of 161 meteorological stations, 4 irregularity indices of precipitation were calculated: concentration index, entropy, persistence index and fractal dimension. These indices were determined according to observed values, and then determined their spatial distribution by interpolating following multivariate regression models that consider different geographical variables such as latitude, distance to the Amazon basin, elevation, orientation and curvature. The temporal trends of each index and for each meteorological station were also calculated, and showed different results depending on the latitude and the elevation. These changes agree with the observed modifications on the intertropical atmospheric circulation and with the changes in the precipitation diurnal cycle. These results will help to improve climate projections for these region and to inform the development of water management policies.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, Paulina I. Ponce-Philimon, Jose A. Guijarro, and Pablo Sarricolea

Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement

Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, Paulina I. Ponce-Philimon, Jose A. Guijarro, and Pablo Sarricolea
Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, Paulina I. Ponce-Philimon, Jose A. Guijarro, and Pablo Sarricolea

Viewed

Total article views: 3,085 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
2,626 418 41 3,085 58 45
  • HTML: 2,626
  • PDF: 418
  • XML: 41
  • Total: 3,085
  • BibTeX: 58
  • EndNote: 45
Views and downloads (calculated since 06 Aug 2018)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 06 Aug 2018)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 2,447 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 2,415 with geography defined and 32 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 28 Mar 2024
Download

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
Water in Northern Chile, mainly characterized by the Atacama Desert, is a very scarce resource, and precipitations are the principal providing source of it. Under very challenging climate change scenarios, to study, not only the amount evolutions but also the irregularity of rainfall is of high interest, so models can be improved. Climate projections can be more confident, so policymakers can develop more appropriate politics and can take more accurate decisions to manage water in this area.