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| Climate_of_South_America | |
|---|---|
| Name | South America |
| Caption | Satellite view of South America |
| Climate types | Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Arid, Alpine, Polar |
| Major influences | Amazon River, Andes, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, El Niño–Southern Oscillation |
| Precipitation range | From <100 mm yr⁻¹ in the Atacama Desert to >6,000 mm yr⁻¹ in western Amazon Basin |
| Temperature range | From <-20 °C in Andes highlands to >40 °C in lowland basins |
Climate_of_South_America
South America's climate is extraordinarily diverse, spanning equatorial Amazon Basin, arid Atacama Desert, temperate Pampas, and alpine Andes regimes. Influenced by major geographic features such as the Andes, large basins like the Amazon River Basin, and adjacent oceans including the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, the continent exhibits strong regional contrasts and pronounced seasonal and interannual variability. Atmospheric teleconnections like the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and basin-scale circulations modulate precipitation, temperature, and extreme events across nations such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia.
South America's climates reflect latitude from the Equator through the Tropic of Capricorn to subpolar latitudes near Cape Horn. The northern countries including Venezuela and Guyana experience tropical rainforest and monsoon climates, while central regions in Brazil and Paraguay include tropical wet-dry and savanna regimes. Southern provinces such as Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego show cold temperate and subpolar climates influenced by the South Pacific Ocean and Drake Passage. Topography shapes microclimates from the high-elevation puna of Peru and Bolivia to coastal deserts adjacent to Lima and Iquique.
The continent can be subdivided into conventional zones: equatorial rainforest in the Amazon Rainforest and Guiana Shield; tropical savanna across Cerrado and Llanos; arid coasts and deserts like the Atacama Desert and Sechura Desert; Mediterranean-type climate in central Chile around Santiago; temperate grasslands in the Pampas around Buenos Aires and Montevideo; and alpine climates throughout the Andes including regions near Quito and La Paz. Southernmost zones include tundra and subantarctic climates on islands such as Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Large-scale drivers include the South Atlantic High, the Pacific South American pattern, and the Southern Annular Mode. Oceanic currents like the cold Humboldt Current along the west coast and the warm Brazil Current along the east coast modulate coastal air masses and marine ecosystems off Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation system alters sea surface temperatures, affecting rainfall and agriculture in regions from Colombia to Argentina. Teleconnections with the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Madden–Julian Oscillation also influence interseasonal variability, impacting countries such as Ecuador, Suriname, and Bolivia.
Seasonal precipitation is often tied to the annual migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and monsoonal flow across the Amazon Basin and Pantanal. The southern summer brings convective rainfall and thunderstorms to Brazil and Paraguay, while austral winter favors frontal systems moving from the South Pacific into Chile and Argentina. Coastal fog regimes like the camanchaca in northern Chile and southern Peru arise from cold upwelling and the Humboldt Current. Snowfall patterns in the Andes affect hydroelectric reservoirs and river systems feeding major cities such as Santiago and Cusco.
South America experiences floods in the Amazon River Basin and La Plata Basin, droughts across Northeastern Brazil and the Gran Chaco, and heatwaves in urban centers like São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Tropical cyclone effects occur in the South Atlantic rarely but have impacted Brazil and Uruguay in recorded events. Landslides and debris flows are recurrent hazards in steep Andean corridors near Quito, Lima, and Bogotá during intense rainfall. Volcanic ash from active Andean volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, Villarrica, and Nevado del Ruiz can disrupt aviation and agriculture across national borders including Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia.
Anthropogenic emissions from urban centers and industries in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela contribute to regional warming and altered precipitation patterns, while deforestation across the Amazon Rainforest and expansion of agriculture in the Cerrado alter surface albedo and evapotranspiration. Climate model projections for the continent indicate intensified droughts in Northeast Brazil and parts of the La Plata Basin, reduced Andean glaciers impacting water supply for cities such as La Paz and Lima, and shifting biomes affecting biodiversity hotspots like the Atlantic Forest and Chocó. International responses involve participation by countries in agreements including the Paris Agreement and regional initiatives coordinated by organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank.
Observational networks include meteorological services of Brazilian National Institute for Space Research, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina), Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, and national agencies in Peru and Colombia, complemented by satellite missions from NASA, European Space Agency, and research programs at institutions like Universidad de São Paulo, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México that collaborate on studies of El Niño–Southern Oscillation impacts, glacier mass balance, and ecosystem responses. Long-term monitoring efforts involve the Global Climate Observing System and regional projects such as the Amazon Environmental Research Institute to improve early warning for floods, droughts, and land-use change.
Category:Climate of South America