Climates of Brazil: Past and Present

Abstract

This chapter describes the climactic patterns that prevailed in the Brazilian territory, particularly in the Quaternary, some observations made by travelers and naturalists, particularly during the colonial historic period, the first systematic studies of climactic geomorphology in Brazil, and, finally, the types of current, regional climates. It is noteworthy that the studies based on geological and climatic events have developed various methods to observe and understand the distinct and beautiful Brazilian landscapes. However, for decades, studies have not used climatic and geomorphological data to effectively contribute to the understanding of the origin and evolution of Brazilian landscapes. This situation may certainly be associated with Brazil's territorial extension, the great geomorphological complexity and absence of data and information climatic and geomorphological data. KeywordsPast climates Á Brazilian climactic domains Á Brazilian Quaternary The Quaternary in BrazilKnowledge of the Quaternary in Brazil has evolved significantly, particularly since the 1970s, with the significant advancement of paleovegetational studies and palynological analyses to understand the climactic fluctuations that occurred during the last glaciation. Reflecting this growth, the First Symposium on the Quaternary in Brazil (Primeiro Simpósio do Quaternário no Brasil) was conducted in 1971, and the Technical-Scientific Committee of the Brazilian Society of Quaternary Geology was also created. In 1984, the Brazilian Association for Quaternary Studies (Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Quaternário-ABEQUA) was founded, which later united with the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). Despite the remaining gaps in the knowledge of paleoenvironments in Brazil, it is known that during the last glacial cycle, an intensification of cold fronts and advancement of polar air shaped a large portion of the landscapes in the current Brazilian territory. According to , the current climatobotanical frameworks continue to adjust to these changes.Throughout the Quaternary glaciations, the Brazilian climates, even those with tropical characteristics, were colder than at present. Between 115,000 and 70,000 BP during the beginning of the last Quaternary glaciation (Würm), the Brazilian territory experienced a period of maximum cold and aridity that had strong repercussions on the vegetation.Climatic fluctuations were frequent between 70,000 and 22,000 BP with alternating drier and wetter periods. The final cool and arid period began approximately 22,000 years ago and lasted until approximately 14,000 BP, when the

Genetic differentiation and historical demography of wood stork populations in Brazilian wetlands: Implications for the conservation of the species and associated ecosystems

“…Taken together, these findings suggest that the Amapá wetland remained stable enough for many years, sheltering healthy wood stork breeding populations. Although the effects of Quaternary climatic and hydrological changes on different South American biomes are a matter of continuous research and debate, most palaeoclimatic reconstructions of the Neotropics currently accept that seasonally dry forests, open woodlands and savannas once dominated the landscape (Sant'anna Neto et al, ). Highly concordant palaeopalynological and palaeo‐sedimentary records suggest that a more humid climate contributed to the persistence of wetlands in the equatorial regions of South America during the LGM (Sant'anna Neto et al, ).…”

“…Although the effects of Quaternary climatic and hydrological changes on different South American biomes are a matter of continuous research and debate, most palaeoclimatic reconstructions of the Neotropics currently accept that seasonally dry forests, open woodlands and savannas once dominated the landscape (Sant'anna Neto et al, ). Highly concordant palaeopalynological and palaeo‐sedimentary records suggest that a more humid climate contributed to the persistence of wetlands in the equatorial regions of South America during the LGM (Sant'anna Neto et al, ). At the time, savannas would have expanded and dominated the northern portion of the country in the Brazilian Amazon, where the state of Amapá is located (see Figure 4.1 in Sant'anna Neto et al, ).…”

“…Highly concordant palaeopalynological and palaeo‐sedimentary records suggest that a more humid climate contributed to the persistence of wetlands in the equatorial regions of South America during the LGM (Sant'anna Neto et al, ). At the time, savannas would have expanded and dominated the northern portion of the country in the Brazilian Amazon, where the state of Amapá is located (see Figure 4.1 in Sant'anna Neto et al, ). In the central western region of Brazil, deglacial warming began immediately following the LGM and was marked by the onset of a wetter climate (Sant'anna Neto et al, ).…”

“…At the time, savannas would have expanded and dominated the northern portion of the country in the Brazilian Amazon, where the state of Amapá is located (see Figure 4.1 in Sant'anna Neto et al, ). In the central western region of Brazil, deglacial warming began immediately following the LGM and was marked by the onset of a wetter climate (Sant'anna Neto et al, ). A sharp shift to wetter and humid conditions occurred between 12.8 and 12.2 kyr BP, when the Pantanal wetland was a shallow body of water (Whitney et al, ).…”

“…Sant'anna Neto et al, 2015). A sharp shift to wetter and humid conditions occurred between 12.8 and 12.2 kyr BP, when the Pantanal wetland was a shallow body of water(Whitney et al, 2011).…”