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An analysis of the rainfall regimes on the coastal region of Guyana
Author(s) -
Shaw Anthony B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0196-1748
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3370070307
Subject(s) - mesoscale meteorology , environmental science , climatology , intertropical convergence zone , spatial coherence , wet season , tropics , scale (ratio) , geography , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , precipitation , meteorology , geology , ecology , physics , cartography , quantum mechanics , biology
Rainfall on the Guyana coastal region is produced by mesoscale synoptic systems occurring throughout the year and by large‐scale systems associated with the seasonal movement of the ITCZ. Consequently, the rainfall is highly variable in time and space. This variability has often adversely affected crop production. Daily rainfall data are examined for a selected sample of stations in order to establish the onset dates of effective and persistent rainfall within the two major rainfall seasons. Onset dates show significant inter‐station and yearly variations for the winter (short wet) season while they vary only moderately for the summer (long wet) season. Correlation analysis has also been used to examine the spatial coherence of the rainfall. Seasonal differences have been found. Winter rains tend to be more localized and appears to be produced by a larger number of small‐scale systems. Summer rains appear to be more spatially coherent owing to the influence of energetic large‐scale systems associated with the ITCZ.