Impacts of teleconnection patterns on South America climate

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2021 Nov;1504(1):116-153. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14592. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Abstract

Oceanic heat sources disturb the atmosphere, which, to come back to its initial state, disperses waves. These waves affect the climate in remote regions, characterizing the teleconnection patterns. In this study, we describe eight teleconnection patterns that affect South America climate: the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), the Tropical Atlantic Dipole (TAD), the South Atlantic Dipole (SAD), the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Precipitation and winds at 850-hPa anomalies, considering these teleconnection patterns in ENSO neutral periods, are also presented. Overall, southeastern South America and the north sector of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil are the most affected areas by the teleconnection patterns. In general, there is a precipitation dipole pattern between these regions during each teleconnection pattern.

Keywords: South America; climate indices; precipitation; teleconnection patterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Climate Change
  • Climate*
  • El Nino-Southern Oscillation
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humans
  • South America
  • Telecommunications*