Analysis of the trends in observed extreme temperatures in mainland Chile between 1966 and 2015 using different indices

Abstract

Temperature records provide strong evidence of change and variability in the climate system. The sensitivity of temperature to seasonal changes throughout the year makes it an ideal object of study when seeking to identify trends in its behavior. This study analyzes temperature data from 18 stations in mainland Chile. By applying Mann-Kendall's non-parametric test to the data series, and calculating specific extreme temperature indices it is possible to identify significant trends in the series recorded from 1966 to the present. The results show positive trends for both minimum and maximum temperature series although they are more marked for the former, especially during the warm months. The trend analysis of the extreme indices proposed by the ETCDDI, when applied to the data from the stations studied, suggests that there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of warm extremes, while cold events show a negative trend, with differences between the observatories located in the north of the study area and those located in the center and the south. Key words: Extreme temperatures, temperature trends, Mann-Kendall, Chile