Fluctuations in the monthly discharge of Guyana Shield rivers, related to Pacific and Atlantic climate variability

Abstract

The discharge variability of the main rivers that drain the Guyana Shield is analysed over the last 50 years using cross-wavelet, coherence and composite analysis involving oceanic and atmospheric variables. We highlight the overall hydro-climatological homogeneity of this region that allowed us to focus on the longest discharge time series available. Therefore, a wavelet cross-analysis was carried out between monthly and seasonal Maroni River discharge at the Langa Tabiki station and selected climate indices. This confirms a strong relationship between the hydrology of the Guyana Shield and the Pacific sea-surface temperature (SST) fluctuations. There is evidence of intermittent influence, of between inter-annual and near decadal scales, of the Atlantic SST fluctuations, in particular around 1970 and 1990. Finally, we show that the links between oceanic regions and high discharge in the rivers of Guyana are realized through the reinforcement of the Walker and Hadley cells between the Amazon and the adjacent oceans and through decreased trade winds and monsoon flux that favour the persistence of humidity over the Guyana Shield. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor D. Hughes Citation Labat, D., Espinoza, J.-C., Ronchail, J., Cochonneau, G., de Oliveira, E., Doudou, J.C. and Guyot, J.-L., 2012. Fluctuations in the monthly discharge of Guyana Shield rivers, related to Pacific and Atlantic climate variability. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (6), 1081–1091.