Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Espinoza J.C., Ronchail J., Guyot Jean-Loup, Junquas C., Drapeau G., Martinez Jean-Michel, Santini W., Vauchel Philippe, Lavado W., Ordonez J., Espinoza R. (2012). From drought to flooding : understanding the abrupt 2010-11 hydrological annual cycle in the Amazonas River and tributaries. Environmental Research Letters, 7 (2), art. no 024008 [7 p.]. ISSN 1748-9326.

Titre du document
From drought to flooding : understanding the abrupt 2010-11 hydrological annual cycle in the Amazonas River and tributaries
Année de publication
2012
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000307590300011
Auteurs
Espinoza J.C., Ronchail J., Guyot Jean-Loup, Junquas C., Drapeau G., Martinez Jean-Michel, Santini W., Vauchel Philippe, Lavado W., Ordonez J., Espinoza R.
Source
Environmental Research Letters, 2012, 7 (2), art. no 024008 [7 p.] ISSN 1748-9326
In this work we document and analyze the hydrological annual cycles characterized by a rapid transition between low and high flows in the Amazonas River (Peruvian Amazon) and we show how these events, which may impact vulnerable riverside residents, are related to regional climate variability. Our analysis is based on comprehensive discharge, rainfall and average suspended sediment data sets. Particular attention is paid to the 2010-11 hydrological year, when an unprecedented abrupt transition from the extreme September 2010 drought (8300 m(3) s(-1)) to one of the four highest discharges in April 2011 (49 500 m(3) s(-1)) was recorded at Tamshiyacu (Amazonas River). This unusual transition is also observed in average suspended sediments. Years with a rapid increase in discharge are characterized by negative sea surface temperature anomalies in the central equatorial Pacific during austral summer, corresponding to a La Nina-like mode. It originates a geopotential height wave train over the subtropical South Pacific and southeastern South America, with a negative anomaly along the southern Amazon and the southeastern South Atlantic convergence zone region. As a consequence, the monsoon flux is retained over the Amazon and a strong convergence of humidity occurs in the Peruvian Amazon basin, favoring high rainfall and discharge. These features are also reported during the 2010-11 austral summer, when an intense La Nina event characterized the equatorial Pacific.
Plan de classement
Climatologie [021CLIMAT] ; Mécanisme du cycle de l'eau [062MECEAU]
Descripteurs
CYCLE HYDROLOGIQUE ; VARIATION ANNUELLE ; SECHERESSE ; INONDATION ; FACTEUR CLIMATIQUE ; VARIABILITE ; DEBIT ; PRECIPITATION ; TRANSPORT SOLIDE ; MATIERE EN SUSPENSION ; SEDIMENTATION FLUVIATILE ; INTERACTION OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ; TEMPERATURE DE SURFACE ; HUMIDITE DE L'AIR ; COURS D'EAU ; MOUSSON ; LA NINA
Description Géographique
PEROU ; AMAZONIE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010060261]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010060261
Contact