HIDRO-ECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN CENTRAL MEXICO, UNDER ENSO CONDITIONS

The impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, and vegetation in a three-state region of central Mexico were investigated using daily weather data from 20 weather stations for the years 1970 through 1990, which included 5 El Niño years, 5 La Niña years, and 11 Neutral years. In addition, two years, 1997 (El Niño), and 1998 (La Niña) of 10-day NDVI composites were analyzed during the growing season (May-Oct) along with precipitation and reference evapotranspiration (ETo) over central Mexico. Regional precipitation trends were analyzed using the normalized rainfall departures. The interannual variation of vegetation cover was analyzed using the NDVI on 10-day and monthly bases. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Penman-Monteith method was used to calculate ETo. The dynamics of the soil water balance in central Mexico was evaluated according to the method proposed by Thornthwaite and Mather.

Autorentext

Ana Rosa Peralta-Hernández. Professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (UAA) Mexico. Ph.D. by The University of Arizona. 2001. M.Sc. by UAA. 1995. Bachelor's Degree Agronomy by UAA. 1982. Dr. Peralta is a leading investigator on ENSO in Mexico. She has focused mainly on cyclone activity, canicula (midsummer drought) and frost periods.