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Characterisation of the intra-annual rainfall and its evolution (1837–2010) in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

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Abstract

Variability in precipitation affects annual total records and causes instability in rainfall distribution throughout the year. Our aim in this study was to develop a procedure, based on pluviometric centralisation and dispersion parameters, that is able to characterise rainfall distribution throughout a year of precipitation in a unique, condensed and precise manner. This enabled the evolution of intra-annual precipitation from 1837 to 2010 in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula to be determined. The obtained results showed irregular oscillations of the parameters during the selected period. Specifically, patterns of precipitation in recent decades revealed the following differentiating features: the displacement of the most intense rainy periods in autumn with a consequent decrease in precipitation in spring, and more erratic distribution throughout the year with an increase of the frequency of intra-annual dispersion peaks.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Project CGL2009-10683), as well as by the Project 158–2010 (Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales del Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Avda. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Seville, Spain

    Leoncio García-Barrón

  2. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Julia Morales & Arturo Sousa

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  1. Leoncio García-Barrón
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  2. Julia Morales
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  3. Arturo Sousa
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Correspondence to Leoncio García-Barrón.

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García-Barrón, L., Morales, J. & Sousa, A. Characterisation of the intra-annual rainfall and its evolution (1837–2010) in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Theor Appl Climatol 114, 445–457 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-013-0855-7

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