Meteorological Drought Indices: Rainfall Prediction in Argentina

Abstract

There are many meteorological indices being used to detect the climate atmospheric and oceanic forcing. Some of them are hemispheric and represent climate forcing associated with changes in atmospheric circulation, which drive rainfall anomalies in different parts of the earth. They are known as “teleconnections” and the most relevant is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Other indices are defined near the area to detect the possible causes of rainfall anomalies; they are closely related to the regional circulation patterns, like mountains or local winds. The challenges of a changing climate increase the need to continue working toward the development of better indicators and methods to monitor rainfall in different parts of the world. Rainfall behavior becomes important for regional economies, especially in agricultural resources and hydrological energy generation, among other activities. The aim of this chapter is to identify some of the meteorological indices that are actually being used and their development and uses in Argentina.