Decadal variability in the austral summer precipitation over the Central Andes: Observations and the empirical-statistical downscaling model

The decadal variability in summer precipitation over the Central Andes (10 degrees-30 degrees S) is investigated from 1921 to 2010 using low-pass filtered time series of the central and eastern El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Pacific (C and E) indices, the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) index, the Atlantic SST indices, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index, North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, and ERA-20C reanalysis. Additionally, an empirical-statistical downscaling (ESD) model was built. A rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis shows that the first leading mode of precipitation (RPC1) represents 38.2% of the total decadal variance. RPC2, RCP3, and RPC4 represent 18.8, 12.8, and 9.7% of the total decadal variance, respectively. Furthermore, RPC1 features highest loadings over most of the region. RPC2 features a dipole of highest loadings over the southernmost Bolivian Altiplano and lowest loadings over the northwestern Argentinian Andes. Conversely, RPC3 presents highest loadings over the eastern-central Bolivian Altiplano and northwestern Argentinian Andes. RPC4 features highest loadings over the southern Bolivian Andes. RPC1 and RPC3 wet summers are associated with moisture transport from the Amazon basin, but RPC1 features the strengthening upper-level Bolivian high-Nordeste low system over South America. Conversely, RPC2 and RPC4 wet summers are associated with local processes induced by southward displacement of the South Atlantic Convergence Zone and warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the Indian Ocean, respectively. According to the ESD model, the decadal variability in the central and eastern Pacific (CP and EP) and Atlantic Ocean reproduces the decadal component of the DJF precipitation over most of the Central Andes.

Automated summary

This study investigates the decadal variability in summer precipitation over the Central Andes and identifies the different modes and their associated climate processes. The results show that moisture transport from the Amazon basin and local processes induced by the South Atlantic Convergence Zone and Indian Ocean SST anomalies contribute to the decadal variability in precipitation.