Spatiotemporal variability of monthly precipitation concentration in Argentina

Abstract

Studies of the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation concentration are necessary. This variability is a significant climate element and also a critical socioeconomic factor. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of rainfall in Argentina using records of monthly precipitation for 64 stations (period 1991–2021) to calculate the monthly precipitation concentration index (PCI). Precipitation in Argentina, given its vast territory, presents a great variability with a wide range of rainfall regimes; the range of PCI values is 10.6–27.3. Values of PCI range from uniform distribution (less than 10) to strong irregularity of precipitation distribution (greater than 20). The north-west of the country shows a high concentration and the south has a low concentration. Analysis shows that the majority of the stations have positive trends in PCI (although not significant), and this increase in concentration of precipitation could become a risk depending on the evolution of the associated rain.