chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

La Plata basin climatology
FIG. 2.9. Littoral Region a) Location. Rainfall regime at characteristic sites: b) Center-North c) South
region d) Eastern Region.
Here the influence of the circulation of the West is especially important in
winter. In this season, the cyclogenesis over either Uruguayan or the Argentine
Mesopotamia has a maximum in frequency (Gan and Rao 1991; Vigliarolo 1998).
The further displacement toward the Southeast of these recently generated low
pressures centres causes a maximum of precipitation by the end of winter, on the
southeaster border of the continent, practically entirely outside La Plata basin.
Spite of the relative proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the region presents features
of continental climate as in Winter there is frequent frosts, while in Summer,
the daily maximum temperatures usually exceed the 36ºC (except near the coast),
especially during the second half of December and January.
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