Theoretical and Applied Climatology

, Volume 110, Issue 1–2, pp 35–53 | Cite as

Seasonal temperature and precipitation variability during the last 60 years in a Mediterranean climate area of Northeastern Spain: a multivariate analysis

  • M. C. Ramos
  • J. C. Balasch
  • J. A. Martínez-Casasnovas
Original Paper
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis of mean daily temperature and precipitation from 1950 to 2010 in an area with Mediterranean climate of NE Spain including some coastal areas near Barcelona and the Penedès and Camp de Tarragona Depressions located between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Mediterranean Sea. Their variability, with especial attention to the frequency of extreme events, was analysed by using 18 indexes: seven for temperature and 11 for precipitation were analysed for four meteorological observatories. A multivariate analysis was performed in order to analyse the temperature and precipitation trends. During the analysed period, an increase in mean annual maximum temperature was observed in all observatories ranging between 1.5 and 2.2°C associated with an increase in the number of days with high extreme temperatures. Minimum temperature only increased significantly in the coast observatories (about 1.4°C). By seasons, temperature trends were greater at Vilafranca del Penedès and Barcelona observatories and lower at Reus airport. Maximum spring temperature increased between 1.5 and 2.5°C, summer temperature increased between 1.6 and 2.5°C and autumn temperature increased by up to 2.2°C. Precipitation presented a high variability from year to year, without significant trends. The most significant results were related to the dry conditions observed in spring 2000s, the wet conditions recorded in summer 2000s and 1980s and the longer dry periods in autumn 2000s. The increase of temperatures determined the increase of evapotranspiration, and due to the higher irregular distribution, water deficits for crop development were recorded. An advance of phenological dates and a reduction of grape yield are associated to climate trends.

Keywords

Winter Precipitation North Atlantic Oscillation Index Precipitation Trend Spring Precipitation Klein Tank 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgement

This work was developed in the framework of the research project AGL2009-08353 financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. C. Ramos
    • 1
  • J. C. Balasch
    • 1
  • J. A. Martínez-Casasnovas
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Environment and Soil ScienceUniversity of LleidaLleidaSpain

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