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chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

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Interannual low frequency variability: Background<br />

ther information about the relationship between Hadley <strong>and</strong> Walker cells <strong>and</strong> their<br />

impact over the South American precipitation patterns during ENSO years see<br />

Ambrizzi et al. (2004).<br />

South America is one of the continental areas around the world that is directly<br />

influenced by the ENSO cycle (Ropelewski <strong>and</strong> Halpert 1987). Several studies<br />

documented the ENSO impacts (mainly the El Niño events) in the South American<br />

rainfall (Aceituno, 1988; Kousky et al. 1984; Rao <strong>and</strong> Hada 1990; Alves <strong>and</strong><br />

Repelli 1992; Grimm et al. 1998; Uvo et al. 1998; Diaz et al. 1998; Coelho et al.<br />

1998; Souza et al. 1998b; among others). Findings of these works indicate, in general,<br />

that the main areas of South America influenced by ENSO are located at the<br />

sections West (Peru <strong>and</strong> Ecuador), North <strong>and</strong> Northeast (Amazonian <strong>and</strong> Brazilian<br />

Northeast) <strong>and</strong> South-Southeast (Southern Brazil, Uruguay <strong>and</strong> Argentina). In<br />

analyses focused on southern Brazil <strong>and</strong> Southern South America (SSA), Grimm et<br />

al. (1998, 2000) showed that the impact on rainfall in summer is much weaker than<br />

in spring. In terms of surface temperature impacts during ENSO events over the<br />

SSA, Barros et al. (2002) found a modest signal in this region, where only during<br />

the austral winter prior to the full development of the ENSO event that there were<br />

consistent anomalies in the surface temperature field. In most of the subtropical<br />

region, these anomalies are positive during El Niño <strong>and</strong> negative during La Niña<br />

events, with a maximum in northern Argentina. They coincide in time <strong>and</strong> approximately<br />

in space with an enhancement (reduction) of the northern component of the<br />

flow, <strong>and</strong> of the warm advection at low levels in El Niño (La Niña) events.<br />

38<br />

Fig. 3.2.<br />

Schematic diagrams showing the<br />

anomalous regional Walker <strong>and</strong><br />

Hadley circulation for the (a) El<br />

Niño <strong>and</strong> (b) La Niña canonical<br />

impacts. The blue (red) arrows<br />

indicate the regional<br />

climatological circulation of the<br />

Walker (Hadley) cell <strong>and</strong> the<br />

black thick arrows show the<br />

anomalous circulation observed<br />

in the ENSO composites.<br />

[Adapted from Ambrizzi et al, 2004]

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