CoAuthors

Joecila SANTOS da SILVA (CESTU / UEA, Brazil)

More than a thousand of series of water level have been computed in the Amazon basin from satellite altimetry in the 2003-2015 time window. These series sample rivers of very different size, from the Amazon main stem which carries 2000 m3/s to small second order rivers which carry only a few 100's m3/s. We worked with monthly and annual averages and divided the Amazon basin in large units. For each unit, we present the correlation with climate indices such as NAO, SAO, OST and El Nino.
The main results, globally at the basin scale, are that the water levels in the Amazon basin are correlated negatively with the Altantic indices (NAO and SAO) while they are positively correlated with the Pacific indices. Yet, regional differences exist, as listed below :
- East (Upper) Amazon, Jutai and Solimoes are negatively correlated with the NAO during the flood seasons and is positively correlated with the PAC during the recession season;
- The Negro river is negaltively correlected with the NAO during the flood season and with the PAC index during the dry season;
- The Madeira river is negatively correlated with NAO all along the year;
- The Xingu river is negatively correlated with SAO during the flood season and positively correlated with the PAC index during the low flow season.