Variabilidad y cambios climáticos observados y esperados en el Altiplano del norte de Chile

Abstract

This study analyses temperature, rainfall irregularity and droughts in the Altiplano of Northern Chile at different temporal and spatial scales using data from meteorological stations and high spatial resolution climatic coverage, in respect to current and future scenarios included in the Fifth IPCC report. The aim of this work is to analyze and evaluate climate variability and climate change affecting this region. Our work confirms an increase in temperature, and offers regional scale precision as to the predicted reduction in rainfall, as well as its predicted increase in variability. We identified territories with distinct responses to climate change in the Altiplano, considering spatial and temporal variability in temperature, rainfall and extreme events (storms and droughts). Our results indicate a high coefficient of variation in annual rainfall and an opposite response when the concentration index for daily precipitation is considered.