chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
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ABSTRACT<br />
During approximately the last century southeastern South America has<br />
experienced important changes in its precipitation regime, consequently affecting<br />
the hydrologic balance of the region, <strong>and</strong> particularly of the La Plata basin.<br />
Changes have been observed in many other regions of the world, but South<br />
America is probably one where largest change magnitudes are found. Moreover,<br />
the trends have intensified in the last 30 to 40 years due to changes in changes<br />
in the atmospheric circulation <strong>and</strong> likely due to l<strong>and</strong> use changes.<br />
As a consequence of the increased precipitation in semiarid regions of<br />
Argentina, the agricultural l<strong>and</strong> extent has increased, which has been beneficial<br />
for increased revenues, but at the same time this has created new ecological<br />
problems. Consequently, although semiarid regions have benefited from the<br />
increased precipitation, other regions are flooding more frequently, <strong>and</strong> in certain<br />
cases some areas have been left permanently under water<br />
Changes in precipitation correspond with a doubling of changes in river discharge,<br />
so that by each 1% increase precipitation, the streamflow increases by<br />
2% or more. This indicates that activities dependent on the streamflows are highly<br />
vulnerable to possible regional trends related to the global Climate Change.<br />
61<br />
CHAPTER<br />
REGIONAL PRECIPITATION TRENDS<br />
Ernesto Hugo Berbery 1 , Moira Doyle 2 <strong>and</strong> Vicente Barros 2<br />
1 Universidad de Maryl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
2 CIMA/CONICET. Universidad de Buenos Aires.<br />
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