A study on annual and intraannual variability of rainfall over Northeastern Brazil

This study analyzed rainfall and number of rainy days time series over northeastern region of Brazil with the aim of identifying areas that are more vulnerable to long periods of droughts. The data used in this study were obtained from the National Water Agency (ANA) and Superintendencia do Desenvol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista brasileira de meteorologia 2012-07, Vol.27 (2), p.163-172
Main Authors: SILVA, Vicente de Paulo Rodrigues da, PEREIRA, Emerson Ricardo Rodrigues, ALMEIDA, Rafaela Silveira Rodrigues
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This study analyzed rainfall and number of rainy days time series over northeastern region of Brazil with the aim of identifying areas that are more vulnerable to long periods of droughts. The data used in this study were obtained from the National Water Agency (ANA) and Superintendencia do Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (SUDENE) for the period from 1935 to 2000. The variation coefficient and rainy days maps were provided for dry, wet and annual periods of the rainfall and number of rainy days. The results showed that the semiarid region have a higher variation coefficient for both rainfall and rainy days than those located at east coast, tropical thorn forest and northwest of northeastern Brazil. The highest values of the variation coefficient are associated to the lowest values of rainfall and rainy days. The rainfall variability in northeastern Brazil is higher during dry season than rainy season. The high variability in rainfall and rainy days are limiting factors to the rainfed agriculture in semiarid environments.
ISSN:0102-7786
DOI:10.1590/S0102-77862012000200005