A future of extreme precipitation and droughts in the Peruvian Andes

Potter, Emily R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5273-1292; Fyffe, Catriona L.; Orr, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5111-8402; Quincey, Duncan J.; Ross, Andrew N.; Rangecroft, Sally; Medina, Katy; Burns, Helen; Llacza, Alan; Jacome, Gerardo; Hellström, Robert Å.; Castro, Joshua; Cochachin, Alejo; Montoya, Nilton; Loarte, Edwin; Pellicciotti, Francesca. 2023 A future of extreme precipitation and droughts in the Peruvian Andes. npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 6 (96). 9, pp. 10.1038/s41612-023-00409-z

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Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-023-00409-z

Abstract/Summary

Runoff from glacierised Andean river basins is essential for sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people. By running a high-resolution climate model over the two most glacierised regions of Peru we unravel past climatic trends in precipitation and temperature. Future changes are determined from an ensemble of statistically downscaled global climate models. Projections under the high emissions scenario suggest substantial increases in temperature of 3.6 °C and 4.1 °C in the two regions, accompanied by a 12% precipitation increase by the late 21st century. Crucially, significant increases in precipitation extremes (around 75% for total precipitation on very wet days) occur together with an intensification of meteorological droughts caused by increased evapotranspiration. Despite higher precipitation, glacier mass losses are enhanced under both the highest emission and stabilization emission scenarios. Our modelling provides a new projection of combined and contrasting risks, in a region already experiencing rapid environmental change.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41612-023-00409-z
ISSN:	2397-3722
Additional Keywords:	Andes, future climate, droughts, climate extremes, Peru glaciers
Date made live:	10 Aug 2023 09:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534207

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41612-023-00409-z

ISSN:

2397-3722

Additional Keywords:

Andes, future climate, droughts, climate extremes, Peru glaciers

Date made live:

10 Aug 2023 09:01 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/534207