Central America [in State of the Climate in 2017]

For this region, nine stations from five countries were analyzed. Stations on the Caribbean slope are: Philip Goldson International Airport, Belize; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; Puerto Lempira, Honduras; and Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. Stations located on the Pacific slope are: Tocumen International Airport and David, Panamá; Liberia, Costa Rica; Choluteca, Honduras; and Puerto San José, Guatemala.Universidad de Costa Rica/[805-B8-766]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Clima, variabilidad y cambio climático en la Vertiente Caribe de Costa Rica: Un estudio básico para la actividad bananera

informe de investigación -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas, 2013. Forma de citar el trabajo: Amador, J. A., E. J. Alfaro, H. G. Hidalgo, F. J. Soley, F. Solano, J. L. Vargas, F. Sáenz, B. Calderón, P. M. Pérez, J. J. Vargas, R. Díaz, A. Goebel, A. Montero, J. L. Rodríguez, A. Salazar, P. Ureña, N. Mora, I. Rivera, C. Vega y C. Bojorge, 2013. Clima, variabilidad y cambio climático en la Vertiente Caribe de Costa Rica: Un estudio básico para la actividad bananera. Informe Final del Proyecto VI-805-B0-402. Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI), Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica y Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA), Setiembre 2013, 225 pp.Este Informe Final (IF) describe en forma sintética, los alcances y productos del proyecto “Clima, variabilidad y cambio climático en la Vertiente Caribe de Costa Rica: Un estudio básico para la actividad bananera”, en relación con el cumplimiento, por parte del Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI) de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), de las Especificaciones y Requisitos Técnicos (ERT) de la investigación contratada con la Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA). Los ERT de CORBANA (ERTC) están contenidos en la Parte 7 de la Propuesta Original entregada a la Corporación en octubre de 2010. Los detalles de los productos son discutidos en las diferentes secciones del IF. En este sentido, se examinaron la Estructura y Funcionalidad de la Base de Datos (BANACLIMA) y la Red de Estaciones de la Corporación. Se destaca, entre otras cosas, la implementación, en colaboración con CORBANA, de una torre de observación meteorológica en Siquirres (CIGEFI_et) con instrumental de precipitación, temperatura, viento y humedad, instalado a 10, 20 y 30 m de altura, con complemento de presión, temperatura y humedad (del suelo) en superficie. Se generaron y entregaron, tanto en formato JPEG o similar y en un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG) productos de climatología regional derivados de la información de BANACLIMA y de bases de datos regionales. Los productos entregados en el SIG facilitan el uso aplicado de la información. Este proceso contempló la familiarización de personal con los productos generados y no formaba parte de los ERTC. Se entregan clasificaciones climáticas basadas en los métodos de Thornthwaite y Hargreaves, con amplias discusiones sobre su aplicación y limitaciones. Las climatologías generadas con base al modelo MM5 incluyen aspectos de variabilidad que toma en cuenta los modos globales de El Niño Oscilación del Sur (ENOS), la Oscilación Multidecadal del Atlántico (OMDA), ambos basados en índices de la temperatura superficial del océano como predictor de la variabilidad atmosférica regional. Se analizaron datos atmosféricos regionales para obtener indicativos del cambio climático observado para varias variables troposféricas, entre ellas temperatura superficial y precipitación. Un tema investigado en este proyecto y no contemplado tampoco en las ERTC, es la inclusión de algunas proyecciones futuras sobre el cambio climático en la región de interés, basado en resultados de modelos de circulación general (conocidos como 20c3m runs) para el Informe de 2010 del Panel Inter-Gubernamental para el Cambio Climático. Otro aspecto, no contemplado en las ERTC, es la recolección de importantes datos históricos sobre meteorología y el desarrollo institucional de la Corporación. Sobre este tema, el CIGEFI espera continuar investigando por su parte y de darse las condiciones de acceso requeridas, dotar en un futuro a CORBANA de un documento más completo sobre su historia y el desarrollo en la actividad bananera nacional. Personal de CORBANA participó en Mini-congresos, talleres y presentaciones del CIGEFI en relación con los temas e investigaciones realizadas para el proyecto. Personal del Centro participó en Congresos Bananeros, talleres y seminarios dando a conocer los resultados del proyecto con CORBANA. Un importante grupo de artículos han sido publicados, otros están en proceso, todos ellos mostrando los productos y resultados de la investigación. Con respecto a los diferentes aspectos que tiene que ver con las ERTC, se incorporaron recomendaciones específicas, en el Informe Primero (IP), de setiembre de 2011, en el Informe Segundo (IS), de mayo de 2012 y en el presente IF. En este IF se incorporan figuras o tablas que aparecen en el IP o en el IS, sin embargo, éstas fueron, en general, mejoradas tanto por el uso de información complementaria, cambio o mejoramiento del método de trabajo o para incorporar un periodo más extenso de datos.Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA). Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR).UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Climatic Features and Their Relationship with Tropical Cyclones Over the Intra-Americas Seas

In this chapter, indexes of the Intra-Americas or Caribbean Low-Level Jet (IALLJ or CLLJ, respectively), Niño 3, Tropical North Atlantic (NATL), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), and Outgoing Long Wave Radiation (OLR) are quantified for the period 1950–2007, to study their relationship with tropical cyclone (TC) frequency for summer–autumn of the Northern Hemisphere. A remarkable inverse relationship is found between both, the strength of the wind speed at 925 hPa and the vertical wind shear at low levels, and the monthly relative frequency of TCs for two selected areas in the Caribbean. The July peak in wind speed and low-level vertical wind shear are associated with a minimum in the monthly relative frequency of TCs. On the contrary, a decrease in the wind speed and vertical shears are associated with a maximum value of the relative frequency of TCs. Stronger (weaker) than normal IALLJ summer winds (July–August) during warm (cold) ENSO events imply a stronger (weaker) than normal vertical wind shear at low-levels in the Caribbean. This condition may inhibit (allow) deep convection, disfavoring (favoring) TC development during these months. Correlation values of the monthly mean CLLJ core winds and the monthly normalized values of NATL – Niño 3 index for 1950–2007 showed statistical significance greater than 99% during July–August. During El Niño years, low-level wind increases at the jet core strengthening the low level convergence near Central America at the jet exit and the low-level divergence in the central Caribbean at the jet entrance. The descending motion associated with the latter acts as an inhibiting factor for convection and TC development. TC activity in the Caribbean is not only sensitive to ENSO influences, but to the strength of the CLLJ vertical wind shear, to barotropic energy conversions induced by the lateral wind shear, to the intensity of the regional scale descending motion associated with the jet entrance, and to the SST cooling generated by the CLLJ at the sea surface. Climatology of a group of General Circulation Models used in the 2007 report of the IPCC were tested to study their ability to capture the low-level wind annual cycle over the Caribbean and the known CLLJ structure. Some models do not capture basic characteristics of the jet. A discussion of cyclone potential over the Caribbean, based on the relationships developed using the models climatology, is presented for the period 2010–2050. As a study case, the findings were contrasted with the observed 2008 climate over the IAS region. Rainy season for 2008 in Central America evolved in a way consistent with the presence of La Niña event and the meridional migration of the ITCZ. Wind anomalies associated with the IALLJ were larger (smaller) than normal during February (July) 2008, in agreement with earlier findings in regards to the relationship of the IALLJ and ENSO phases. The year of 2008 was very active for tropical storm formation in the Caribbean basin (10–22. 5∘N, 60–82. 5∘W). From 16 named storms observed in the Atlantic, 10 entered the Caribbean basin. Eight (five) Atlantic cyclones were hurricanes (strong hurricanes) and from the five hurricanes crossing the Caribbean basin, four were strong.Universidad de Costa Rica/[805-A7-002]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[805-A7-755]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[805-A8-401]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[805-A8-606]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[805-A9-532]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[808-A9-070]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[808-A9-180]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2008]

The global mean temperature in 2008 was slightly cooler than that in 2007; however, it still ranks within the 10 warmest years on record. Annual mean temperatures were generally well above average in South America, northern and southern Africa, Iceland, Europe, Russia, South Asia, and Australia. In contrast, an exceptional cold outbreak occurred during January across Eurasia and over southern European Russia and southern western Siberia. There has been a general increase in land-surface temperatures and in permafrost temperatures during the last several decades throughout the Arctic region, including increases of 1° to 2°C in the last 30 to 35 years in Russia. Record setting warm summer (JJA) air temperatures were observed throughout Greenland. The year 2008 was also characterized by heavy precipitation in a number of regions of northern South America, Africa, and South Asia. In contrast, a prolonged and intense drought occurred during most of 2008 in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, causing severe impacts to agriculture and affecting many communities.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2011]

Large-scale climate patterns influenced temperature and weather patterns around the globe in 2011. In particu- lar, a moderate-to-strong La Niña at the beginning of the year dissipated during boreal spring but reemerged during fall. The phenomenon contributed to historical droughts in East Africa, the southern United States, and northern Mexico, as well the wettest two-year period (2010–11) on record for Australia, particularly remarkable as this follows a decade-long dry period. Precipitation patterns in South America were also influenced by La Niña. Heavy rain in Rio de Janeiro in January triggered the country’s worst floods and landslides in Brazil’s history. The 2011 combined average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was the coolest since 2008, but was also among the 15 warmest years on record and above the 1981–2010 average. The global sea surface temperature cooled by 0.1°C from 2010 to 2011, associ- ated with cooling influences of La Niña. Global integrals of upper ocean heat content for 2011 were higher than for all prior years, demonstrating the Earth’s dominant role of the oceans in the Earth’s energy budget. In the upper atmosphere, tropical stratospheric temperatures were anomalously warm, while polar temperatures were anomalously cold. This led to large springtime stratospheric ozone reductions in polar latitudes in both hemispheres. Ozone concentrations in the Arctic strato- sphere during March were the lowest for that period since satellite records began in 1979. An extensive, deep, and persistent ozone hole over the Antarctic in September indicates that the recovery to pre-1980 conditions is proceeding very slowlyUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2010]

Several large-scale climate patterns influenced climate conditions and weather patterns across the globe during 2010. The transition from a warm El Niño phase at the beginning of the year to a cool La Niña phase by July contributed to many notable events, ranging from record wetness across much of Australia to historically low Eastern Pacific basin and near-record high North Atlantic basin hurricane activity. The remaining five main hur- ricane basins experienced below- to well-below-normal tropical cyclone activity. The negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation was a major driver of Northern Hemisphere temperature patterns during 2009/10 winter and again in late 2010. It contributed to record snowfall and unusually low temperatures over much of northern Eurasia and parts of the United States, while bringing above-normal temperatures to the high northern latitudes. The Febru- ary Arctic Oscillation Index value was the most negative since records began in 1950.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2009]

For this region, seven stations from the following five countries were analyzed: Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

State of the climate in 2021. Regional climates

Regional Climates is one chapter from the State of the Climate in 2021 annual report. Compiled by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate in 2021 is based on contributions from scientists from around the world. It provides a detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments located on land, water, ice, and in space.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Físic

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2020]

For this region, nine stations from five countries were analyzed (see Fig. 7.8 for data and station list). The station distribution covers the relevant intraseasonal regimes of precipitation (Amador 1998; Magaña et al. 1999; Amador et al. 2016a,b), wind (Amador 2008), and temperature (Hidalgo et al. 2019) on the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Central America (CA). Precipitation and temperature records for the stations analyzed and regional wind were provided either by CA National Weather Services (CA-NWS), NOAA, or the University of Costa Rica. Anomalies are reported using a 1981–2010 base period and were calculated using CA-NWS data. The methodologies used for all variables can be found in Amador et al. (2011).Universidad de Costa Rica/[805-B9-454]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI

Central America [in State of the Climate in 2019]

Regional Climates is one chapter from the State of the Climate in 2019 annual report. Compiled by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate in 2019 is based on contributions from scientists from around the world. It provides a detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments located on land, water, ice, and in space.Universidad de Costa Rica/[805-B9-454]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI