Rainfall variability in southern Spain on decadal to centennial time scales

• Published in: International journal of climatology Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 721 - 732
• Main Authors: Rodrigo, F.S., Esteban‐Parra, M.J., Pozo‐Vázquez, D., Castro‐Díez, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 15.06.2000; Wiley
• Subjects: Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Little Ice Age; Maunder Minimum; Meteorology; North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO); regional rainfall anomalies; Spain, Andalusia; Water in the atmosphere (humidity, clouds, evaporation, precipitation); Europe; Spain; Solar activity; North Atlantic oscillation; Rain; Statistical analysis; Regional study; Anomaly; Little Ice Age
• ISSN: 0899-8418; 1097-0088
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0088(20000615)20:7<721::AID-JOC520>3.0.CO;2-Q

In this work a long rainfall series in Andalusia (southern Spain) is analysed. Methods of historical climatology were used to reconstruct a 500‐year series from historical sources. Different statistical tools were used to detect and characterize significant changes in this series. Results indicate rainfall fluctuations, without abrupt changes, in the following alternating dry and wet phases: 1501–1589 dry, 1590–1649 wet, 1650–1775 dry, 1776‐1937 wet and 1938–1997 dry. Possible causal mechanisms are discussed, emphasizing the important contribution of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) to rainfall variability in the region. Solar activity is discussed in relation to the Maunder Minimum period, and finally the past and present are compared. Results indicate that the magnitude of fluctuations is similar in the past and present. Copyright © 2000 Royal Meteorological Society