Índices de cambio climático y su afectación a la agricultura, caso de estudio cantón Ambato

Abstract

This research analyzes the possible effects of climate change on agriculture, through the indices recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ECTCCDI) on the study area of Ambato and its surroundings. To calculate the Climate Change Indices, the daily data of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation were taken from 4 meteorological stations near the study area: Puyo (M008); Pillaro (M0127); Pedro Fermín (M0128); and Querochaca (M0258) in a temporal range of 35 to 55 years. This data was provided by INAMHI, nevertheless the format conversion was carried out with Python, after that we carried out a detailed climatological quality control on the series and finally performed the calculations in RclimDex. The results indicate slight effects of climate change - and even beneficial - in the sierra region (Ambato and its surroundings), in which there is a slight increase in minimum temperatures (which reduces the risk of frost), and there are not increase extreme rain events. However, for the Puyo station there is a statistically robust increase in the appearance of extreme rainfall and an increase in minimum and maximum temperatures both in intensity, frequency and permanence. In conclusion, it is necessary to take measures to adapt and mitigate climate change in the Puyo region.