The Andes climate and weather

摘要

This paper documents the main features of the weather, climate and climatevariability over Andes cordillera in South America on the basis ofinstrumental observations. We first provide a basic physical understandingof the mean annual cycle of the atmospheric circulation and precipitationand over the Andes and adjacent lowlands. In particular, the diversity ofprecipitation, temperature and wind patterns is interpreted in terms of thelong meridional extent of the Andes and the disruption of the large-scalecirculation by this formidable topographic barrier. We also document theimpact of the El Ni?o Southern Oscillation phenomenon on the temperatureand precipitation regimes along the Andes.