Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Chile's agricultural production occurs in a highly variable Mediterranean climate and faces declining annual precipitation trends as well as growing competition from other uses. Water availability for agriculture depends on winter precipitation; however, a more even distribution of precipitation throughout the year would better support agricultural planning and management. We examine the occurrence, frequency, and trends of dry spells in Central Chile (32°–40° S) as a proxy for changes in the timing of dry‐wet seasons, using a gridded daily precipitation dataset spanning the period from 1960 to 2021. Our results indicate a significant increase in dry spells (+1 event/decade), but shorter (−2 days/event), and a significant decrease in precipitation per wet spell (−2 mm/event/decade). Findings suggest that changes in dry spells should also be considered in planning and policy, as some regions may be experiencing water shortages due to shifts in timing and access, rather than simply having less water. Core Ideas Changes in the length and timing of dry and wet spells impact seasonal precipitation. Changes in dry spells introduce more uncertainty to agricultural planning in Central Chile. Dry spells analysis complements other annual precipitation deficit indices.
DOI: 10.1002/ael2.70037
Institutions: Universidad del Desarrollo, University of Concepción
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,900
OpenAlex ID: W4415427352