Precipitation Trends on Time Series in North of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract The aim of this paper is relating trends of increasing and/or decreasing on precipitation time series in the north part of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, with ENOS phases. To do so, time series of rainfall data from eight meteorological stations were used. The annual total precipitation data were previously analyzed and their gaps were filled. Then, they were plotted in charts, as well as the average data and the linear regression. Pluviometrical series were also analyzed using the software TREND, applying the following non-parametrical statistical tests: Man-Kendall and Spearman’s rho. Tests identified changes on trends in 50% of the analyzed stations, corroborating with results found in charts. Increase of the annual total precipitation in temporal series may be related with El Niño and La Niña periods. However, more specific studies should be performed in order to confirm this hypothesis, since rainfall variability may also be related with hydrological changes, as a result of use and occupation of the soil as well as anthropic activities in the north part of the state.