TITLE:
Impact of Climate Change and Variability on Wheat and Corn Production in Buenos Aires, Argentina
AUTHORS:
Maria Pol, Jacqueline Binyamin
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change of Buenos Aires, Teleconnections, PNA, AO, Sunspot Number, AAO, ENSO, Wheat, Corn Production and Export
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
20,
2014
ABSTRACT: From the
Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN-V3), monthly mean summer (DJF)
temperature (1856-2012) and total precipitation (1861-2012) are analyzed in
correlation with four climate modes and sunspot number to better understand the
role of teleconnections on Buenos Aires’ (Argentina) climate. A general
increase in temperature and precipitation was observed. Temperature has
increased by about 1.8°C and precipitation has increased by about 300 mm in the
past century and a half. Indices of Arctic Oscillation (AO), Pacific North
American (PNA), Antarctic Oscillation (AAO), and El Nino-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) are evaluated to study their effects on wheat and corn production and
export. AO and PNA show strong relationships with precipitation and temperature
received. AAO and ENSO show strong negative correlations with precipitation
patterns and weak correlations with temperature. Sunspot Number shows a
positive correlation with temperature. ENSO phases are strongly linked with the
wheat and corn production and export; during El Nino Buenos Aires tends to
experience extremely wet summer weather, causing soggy fields and extremely dry
summer weather during La Nina causing drought. Both of these conditions result
in reducing wheat and corn production and export.