Tropical and extratropical Pacific decadal climate variability substantially impact physical and biological systems in the Pacific Ocean and strongly influence global climate through teleconnection patterns. Current understanding of Pacific decadal climate variability centers around the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Aleutian Low (AL), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). However, recent literature has highlighted the emerging roles of secondary modes of variability of the tropical and extratropical Pacific atmosphere and ocean in global climate change: the Central Pacific Warming (CPW) phenomenon, the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO), and the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO). This work analyzes the statistics and uncertainties behind Pacific interannual and decadal-scale climate variability, and focuses on better understanding the roles of the CPW, NPO, and NPGO in the climate system. The study begins by examining the dynamics of the NPO and its role in Pacific interannual and decadal climate variability. Results illustrate that the individual poles of the NPO have relations at high frequencies, but only the southern node contains a deterministic low-frequency component, which is forced by tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability, as shown with a modeling experiment. The NPO-induced variability by the tropical Pacific SST is then integrated by the underlying ocean surface to form the decadal-scale NPGO signal. Thus, a new link between the CPW, the NPO, and the NPGO is formed, expanding the current framework of Pacific decadal variability and its implications for weather and climate. The new framework of North Pacific decadal variability (NPDV) is then evaluated in 24 state-of-the-art coupled climate models. Results indicate that the models in general have difficulty reproducing the leading modes of NPDV in space and time, particularly the NPGO mode and its connection to the NPO. Furthermore, most models lack the proper connections between extratropical and tropical Pacific, for both the ENSO/AL/PDO and CPW/NPO/NPGO connections. Improvements in these teleconnections are thus needed to increase confidence in future climate projections. The last part of the dissertation explores further the importance of the CPW mode by comparing and contrasting two popular paleoclimate SST anomaly reconstruction methods used for tropical Indo-Pacific SSTs. The first method exploits the high correlation between the canonical ENSO mode and tropical precipitation; the second method uses a multi-regression model that exploits the multiple modes of covariability between tropical precipitation and SSTs, including the CPW mode. The multi-regression approach demonstrates higher skill throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific than the first approach, illustrating the importance of including the CPW phenomenon in understanding past climates.

Generalized linear stability theory is used to calculate the optimal initial conditions that result in transient amplification of the thermohaline circulation (THC) in a zonally-averaged single basin ocean model. The eigenmodes of the tangent linear model verify that the system is asymptotically stable but the nonnormality of the system permits the growth of perturbations for a finite period through the interference of nonorthogonal eigenmodes. It is found that the maximum amplification of the THC anomalies occurs after 6 years with both the thermally driven and salinity driven components playing major roles in the amplification process. The transient amplification of THC anomalies is due to the constructive and destructive interference of a large number of eigenmodes and the evolution over time is determined by how the interference pattern evolves. It is found that five of the most highly nonnormal eigenmodes are critical to the initial cancellation of the salinity and temperature contributions to the THC while 11 oscillating modes with decay timescales ranging from 2 to 6 years are the major contributors at the time of maximum amplification. This analysis demonstrates that the different dynamics of salinity and temperature anomalies allows the dramatic growth of perturbations to the THC on relatively short (interannual to decadal) timescales. In addition the ideas of generalized stability theory are used to calculate the stochastic optimals which are the spatial patterns of stochastic forcing that are most efficient at generating variance growth in the THC. It is found that the optimal stochastic forcing occurs at high latitudes and induces low-frequency THC variability by exciting the salinity-dominated modes of the THC. The first stochastic optimal is found to have its largest projection on the same five highly nonnormal eigenmodes found to be critical to the structure of the optimal initial conditions. The model’s response to stochastic forcing is not controlled by the least damped eigenmodes of the tangent linear model but rather by the linear interference of these highly nonnormal eigenmodes. The process of pseudoresonance suggests that the nonnormal eigenmodes are excited and sustained by stochastically induced perturbations which in turn lead to maximum THC variance. Finally, it was shown that the addition of wind stress did not have a large impact on the nonnormal dynamics of the linearised system. Adding wind allowed the value of the vertical diffusivity to be reduced to achieve the same maximum linearised THC amplitude as was used in the case with no wind stress.

Climate change is altering hydrological processes with varying degrees in various regions of the world. This research work investigates the possible impacts of climate change on water resource and Hydropower production potential in central and southern Africa. The Congo, Zambezi and Kwanza, Shire, Kafue and Kabompo basins that lie in central and southern Africa are used as case studies. The review of climate change impact studies shows that there are few studies on impacts of climate change on hydropower production. Most of these studies were carried out in Europe and north America and very few in Asia, south America and Africa. The few studies indicate that southern Africa would experience reduction in precipitation and runoff, consequently reductions in hydropower production. There are no standard methods of assessing the resulting impacts. Two approaches were used to assess the impacts of climate change on water resources and hydropower. One approach is lumping changes on country or regional level and use the mean climate changes on mean annual flows as the basis for regional changes in hydropower production. This is done to get an overall picture of the changes on global and regional level. The second approach is a detailed assessment process in which downscaling, hydrological modelling and hydropower simulations are carried out. The possible future climate scenarios for the region of central and southern Africa depicted that some areas where precipitation are likely to have increases while other, precipitation will reduce. The region northern Zambia and southern Congo showed increases while the northern Congo basin showed reductions. Further south in southern African region, there is a tendency of decreases in precipitation. To the west, in Angola, inland showed increases while towards the coast highlighted some decreases in precipitation. On a global scale, hydropower is likely to experience slight changes (0.08%) due to climate change by 2050. Africa is projected for a slight decrease (0.05%), Asia with an increase of 0.27%, Europe a reduction up to 0.16% while America is projected to have an increase of 0.05%. In the eastern African region, it was shown that hydropower production is likely to increase by 0.59%, the central with 0.22% and the western with a 0.03%. The southern, and northern African regions were projected to have reductions of 0.83% and 0.48% respectively. The basins with increases in flow projections have a slight increase on hydropower production but not proportional to the increase in precipitation. The basins with decreases had even high change as the reduction was further increased by evaporation losses. The hydropower production potential of most of southern African basins is likely to decrease in the future due to the impact of climate change while the central African region shows an increasing trend. The hydropower system in these regions will be affected consequently. The hydropower production changes will vary from basin to basin in these regions. The Zambezi, Kafue and Shire river basins have negative changes while the Congo, Kwanza and Kabompo river basins have positive changes. The hydropower production potential in the Zambezi basin decreases by 9 - 34%. The hydropower production potential in the Kafue basin decreases by 8 - 34% and the Shire basin decreases by 7 - 14 %. The southern region will become drier with shorter rainy seasons. The central region will become wetter with increased runoff. The hydropower production potential in the Congo basin reduces slightly and then increases by 4% by the end of the century. The hydropower production potential in the Kwanza basin decreases by 3% and then increases by 10% towards the end of the century and the Kabompo basin production increases by 6 - 18%. It can be concluded that in the central African region hydropower production will, in general, increase while the southern African region, hydropower production will decrease. In summary, the analysis has shown that the southern African region is expected to experience decreases in rainfall and increases in temperature. This will result in reduced runoff. However the northern part of southern Africa is expected to remain relatively the same with slight increase, moving northwards towards the central African region where mainly increases have been registered. The southern African region is likely to experience reductions up to 5 - 20% while the central African region is likely to experience an increase in runoff in the range of 1 - 5%. Lack of data was observed as a critical limiting factor in modelling in the central and southern Africa region. The designs, plans and operations based on poor hydrological data severely compromise performance and decrease efficiency of systems. Climate change is expected to change these risks. The normal extrapolations of historical data will be less reliable as the past will become an increasingly poor predictor of the future. Better (observed) data is recommended in future assessments and if not better tools and methods for data collection/ should be used. Future designs, plans and operations should include and aspect of climate change, if the region is to benefit from the climate change impacts.

Generalized linear stability theory is used to calculate the optimal initial conditions that result in transient amplification of the thermohaline circulation (THC) in a zonally-averaged single basin ocean model. The eigenmodes of the tangent linear model verify that the system is asymptotically stable but the nonnormality of the system permits the growth of perturbations for a finite period through the interference of nonorthogonal eigenmodes. It is found that the maximum amplification of the THC anomalies occurs after 6 years with both the thermally driven and salinity driven components playing major roles in the amplification process. The transient amplification of THC anomalies is due to the constructive and destructive interference of a large number of eigenmodes and the evolution over time is determined by how the interference pattern evolves. It is found that five of the most highly nonnormal eigenmodes are critical to the initial cancellation of the salinity and temperature contributions to the THC while 11 oscillating modes with decay timescales ranging from 2 to 6 years are the major contributors at the time of maximum amplification. This analysis demonstrates that the different dynamics of salinity and temperature anomalies allows the dramatic growth of perturbations to the THC on relatively short (interannual to decadal) timescales. In addition the ideas of generalized stability theory are used to calculate the stochastic optimals which are the spatial patterns of stochastic forcing that are most efficient at generating variance growth in the THC. It is found that the optimal stochastic forcing occurs at high latitudes and induces low-frequency THC variability by exciting the salinity-dominated modes of the THC. The first stochastic optimal is found to have its largest projection on the same five highly nonnormal eigenmodes found to be critical to the structure of the optimal initial conditions. The model’s response to stochastic forcing is not controlled by the least damped eigenmodes of the tangent linear model but rather by the linear interference of these highly nonnormal eigenmodes. The process of pseudoresonance suggests that the nonnormal eigenmodes are excited and sustained by stochastically induced perturbations which in turn lead to maximum THC variance. Finally, it was shown that the addition of wind stress did not have a large impact on the nonnormal dynamics of the linearised system. Adding wind allowed the value of the vertical diffusivity to be reduced to achieve the same maximum linearised THC amplitude as was used in the case with no wind stress.

Na região da campanha gaúcha, no sudoeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, existem áreas que demonstram fragilidade em relação às características litológicas, pedológicas e da cobertura vegetal, principalmente, quando relacionadas às dinâmicas do clima. Os areais da região têm despertado especial atenção nas últimas décadas, devido a questões históricas, socioeconômicas e ambientais. O processo de arenização está relacionado à dinâmica de fenômenos naturais como as precipitações intensas e período de estiagens, estes associadas à dinâmica dos ventos. Contudo, frente aos estudos de simulação climática que projetam os possíveis cenários climáticos futuros, quais seriam as possíveis dinâmicas processuais na região dos areais? O presente trabalho tem por objetivo geral desenvolver um estudo observacional sobre a dinâmica das precipitações para a região no decorrer do século XX, buscando encontrar possíveis evidências de modificação na sua dinâmica em relação ao processo de arenização. O trabalho, também, analisou os dados de precipitação a partir do modelo downscaling Eta/CPTEC 40 km acoplado ao Modelo Climático Global HadCM3 para o cenário SRES A1B. Foram utilizados dados pluviométricos diários dos postos de Alegrete (RS) disponíveis pela Agência Nacional de Águas, os quais foram tratados estatisticamente (preenchimento de falhas, consistência dos dados, análise dos totais anuais, totais trimestrais, totais mensais, dias com chuvas ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, índice simples de intensidade diária – SDII, número de dias com chuvas ≤ 1 mm, comprimento máximo do período seco – CDD e o comprimento máximo do período seco mensal – CDDmês), em relação a sua dinâmica no decorrer da série (variabilidade, tendências e ocorrência de eventos extremos) através da aplicação do Teste de Mann-Kendall de significância estatística. Após a aplicação deste teste, os resultados demonstraram que a maior parte da série não apresentou tendência significativa à modificação, sendo encontradas variações normais durante o período analisado. Em relação aos fenômenos climáticos de baixa frequência como o El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) e a Oscilação Decadal do Pacífico (ODP), foram verificadas suas correspondências utilizando o Índice de Anomalia de Chuva. Após sua aplicação, os resultados demonstraram que ambos os fenômenos (ENOS e ODP) modulam as precipitações anuais na região. Verificou-se, também, que as mudanças consideradas significativas pelo Teste de Mann-Kendall no século XX, sobretudo quanto à ocorrência de eventos extremos de precipitação, apresentaram forte relação com os processos de arenização associados à dinâmica hídrica. O aumento da frequência desses eventos no decorrer do século XX pode ter contribuído para a intensificação de parte dos processos de arenização na região. Já os resultados da modelagem climática apontaram para um aumento das precipitações nas estações da primavera, verão e outono, com incrementos pluviométricos nos meses de novembro, janeiro e março, que podem vir a influenciar nos processos arenização associados às precipitações torrenciais. / In the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Campos/grassland there are areas showing fragility related to soil, vegetation and climatic characteristics. The sands of the region in recent decades have attracted special attention due to historical issues, socio economic and environmental factors. The process of sandization is related to the dynamics of natural phenomena such as intense rainfall and drought period, which are associated to winds dynamic. However, compared to studies of climate simulation to design the possible future climate scenarios, which would be possible in the area dynamics of sands? The aim of this study is to develop observational analysis on the dynamics of rainfall for the region during the twentieth century, trying to find possible evidence of change in its dynamics in relation to the process of sandization. The study analyzed rainfall data from climate simulation of the precipitation from the downscaling model Eta / CPTEC 40 km coupled to the Global Climate Model output of HadCM3 for the SRES A1B scenario. Daily rainfall data of stations Alegrete (RS) available through the Agência Nacional de Águas were used, which were statistically (gap filling, data consistency, analysis of annual totals, quarterly totals, monthly totals, days with rainfall ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, simple daily intensity index - SDII, number of days with rains ≤ 1 mm, maximum length of the dry period - CDD and the maximum length of the dry period monthly – CDDmonthly), analyzed in terms of their dynamic throughout the series (variability, trends and extreme events) by applying the Mann-Kendall. The results showed that most of the series showed no significant tendency to changes, with normal variations encountered during the period. The low frequency climatic phenomena such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) were evaluated for their correspondences using the rainfall anomaly index (RAI). The results showed that both phenomena (ENSO and PDO) modulate annual rainfall in the region. It is also significant that the changes assessed by the Mann-Kendall in the twentieth century, on the occurrence of extreme precipitation events, showed a great relationship with the processes associated with sandization water dynamics. The increased frequency of these events during the twentieth century may have contributed to the intensification of the processes of sandization in the region. The results of climate modeling indicated increased rainfall in the seasons of spring, summer and fall, with increases rainfall in the months of November, January and March what may influence the sandization processes associated with torrential rainfall.

Sur le bassin méditerranéen, les projections climatiques pour la fin du siècle indiquent un assèchement des étés accompagné d'une intensification des précipitations.Dans ce contexte, la caractérisation de la pluviométrie de la région est nécessaire pour appréhender son évolution future.Les modèles climatiques régionaux (RCM) sont des outils essentiels pour la compréhension du climat régional et pour la projection de son évolution.L'objectif de cette thèse est alors de caractériser et d'évaluer la pluie simulée par les RCM dans le sud-est de la France, typique des régions méditerranéennes côtières.La description de la pluie observée aux mêmes échelles que les RCM en est un préalable.La pluie observée et simulée est caractérisée en termes de valeurs et de structure spatiale et temporelle de l'occurrence et de l'intensité.Les liens entre ces caractéristiques et les processus physiques sous-jacents sont explorés grâce à une analyse par type de temps.Dans les modèles, le volume annuel total d'eau apporté par la pluie sur l'ensemble de la région d'étude est proche des valeurs observées.Ce volume n'est toutefois pas réparti également dans le temps et dans l'espace dans les observations et dans les simulations.Parmi les multiples caractéristiques de la pluie observée et simulée, cette étude souligne l'influence des forçages du relief et des processus liés au cycle diurne de l'énergie solaire à la fois sur le déclenchement et sur l'intensité des précipitations.Ainsi, la pluie se produit préférentiellement en fin d'après-midi, en lien avec le chauffage diurne de la surface.Cependant, dans les modèles, le maximum d'occurrence est plus précoce que dans les observations, ce qui suggère une réponse trop rapide du schéma de convection au cycle diurne des flux de surface, liée à l'absence de la phase de transition entre la convection peu profonde et la convection profonde dans la majorité des schémas.Par ailleurs, au sein du domaine d'étude, l'influence du relief sur les caractéristiques de la pluie est plus marquée pour les Cévennes que pour les Préalpes.Les RCM reproduisent cette influence du relief sur les caractéristiques de pluie.Toutefois, les contrastes entre plaines et reliefs sont plus accentués dans les modèles que dans les observations, notamment lorsque le forçage de grande échelle est faible et la convection dominante dans la région d'étude.L'accentuation du contraste entre plaine et montagne dans les modèles semble donc provenir d'une trop grande sensibilité des schémas de convection au relief qui favorise la convergence et l'instabilité de la masse d'air. / Climate projections for the end of the century indicate drier summers and more intense precipitation in the Mediterranean.In this respect, the characterization of rainfall in the region is necessary to understand its future changes.Regional climate models (RCM) are essential tools to understand the regional climate and to project its future evolution.This thesis aims at characterizing and evaluating rainfall simulated by RCM in Southeast France, typical of the mediterranean coastal regions.The description of observed rainfall at the same scales as RCM is a prerequisite.Observed and simulated rainfall is described in terms of values and spatial and temporal structure of occurrence and intensity.Weather types are used to explore the relation between rainfall features and the underlying physical processes.In the RCM, the annual total volume of water precipitated over the study region is closed to the observed values.However, this total volume is not distributed the same in space and time in the RCM simulations and in the observations.Among the multiple facets of the rainfall climatology, this study highlights the influence of the relief and of the solar cycle both in the triggering and in the intensity of rain.Rain appears to occur preferentially in the late afternoon, in connection with the daytime heating of the surface.However, the maximum of rain occurrence simulated by the RCM is earlier than in the observations, suggesting a too quick response of the convection scheme to the diurnal cycle of surface fluxes, in relation to the absence of transition between shallow and deep convection in most schemes.Besides, within the study region, the orographic forcing appears to be quite different for the two ranges of the domain and is much more pronounced over the Cévennes.The RCM reproduce the influence of the topography on rainfall features.Yet, the contrast between plains and mountains is more pronounced in the models than in the observations, especially when the large-scale forcing is weak and the convection is prevailing in the study area.The contrast accentuation between plain and relief in the models seems to be due to a too high sensitivity of the convection schemes to the air mass convergence and instability favored by the relief.

Na região da campanha gaúcha, no sudoeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, existem áreas que demonstram fragilidade em relação às características litológicas, pedológicas e da cobertura vegetal, principalmente, quando relacionadas às dinâmicas do clima. Os areais da região têm despertado especial atenção nas últimas décadas, devido a questões históricas, socioeconômicas e ambientais. O processo de arenização está relacionado à dinâmica de fenômenos naturais como as precipitações intensas e período de estiagens, estes associadas à dinâmica dos ventos. Contudo, frente aos estudos de simulação climática que projetam os possíveis cenários climáticos futuros, quais seriam as possíveis dinâmicas processuais na região dos areais? O presente trabalho tem por objetivo geral desenvolver um estudo observacional sobre a dinâmica das precipitações para a região no decorrer do século XX, buscando encontrar possíveis evidências de modificação na sua dinâmica em relação ao processo de arenização. O trabalho, também, analisou os dados de precipitação a partir do modelo downscaling Eta/CPTEC 40 km acoplado ao Modelo Climático Global HadCM3 para o cenário SRES A1B. Foram utilizados dados pluviométricos diários dos postos de Alegrete (RS) disponíveis pela Agência Nacional de Águas, os quais foram tratados estatisticamente (preenchimento de falhas, consistência dos dados, análise dos totais anuais, totais trimestrais, totais mensais, dias com chuvas ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, índice simples de intensidade diária – SDII, número de dias com chuvas ≤ 1 mm, comprimento máximo do período seco – CDD e o comprimento máximo do período seco mensal – CDDmês), em relação a sua dinâmica no decorrer da série (variabilidade, tendências e ocorrência de eventos extremos) através da aplicação do Teste de Mann-Kendall de significância estatística. Após a aplicação deste teste, os resultados demonstraram que a maior parte da série não apresentou tendência significativa à modificação, sendo encontradas variações normais durante o período analisado. Em relação aos fenômenos climáticos de baixa frequência como o El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) e a Oscilação Decadal do Pacífico (ODP), foram verificadas suas correspondências utilizando o Índice de Anomalia de Chuva. Após sua aplicação, os resultados demonstraram que ambos os fenômenos (ENOS e ODP) modulam as precipitações anuais na região. Verificou-se, também, que as mudanças consideradas significativas pelo Teste de Mann-Kendall no século XX, sobretudo quanto à ocorrência de eventos extremos de precipitação, apresentaram forte relação com os processos de arenização associados à dinâmica hídrica. O aumento da frequência desses eventos no decorrer do século XX pode ter contribuído para a intensificação de parte dos processos de arenização na região. Já os resultados da modelagem climática apontaram para um aumento das precipitações nas estações da primavera, verão e outono, com incrementos pluviométricos nos meses de novembro, janeiro e março, que podem vir a influenciar nos processos arenização associados às precipitações torrenciais. / In the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Campos/grassland there are areas showing fragility related to soil, vegetation and climatic characteristics. The sands of the region in recent decades have attracted special attention due to historical issues, socio economic and environmental factors. The process of sandization is related to the dynamics of natural phenomena such as intense rainfall and drought period, which are associated to winds dynamic. However, compared to studies of climate simulation to design the possible future climate scenarios, which would be possible in the area dynamics of sands? The aim of this study is to develop observational analysis on the dynamics of rainfall for the region during the twentieth century, trying to find possible evidence of change in its dynamics in relation to the process of sandization. The study analyzed rainfall data from climate simulation of the precipitation from the downscaling model Eta / CPTEC 40 km coupled to the Global Climate Model output of HadCM3 for the SRES A1B scenario. Daily rainfall data of stations Alegrete (RS) available through the Agência Nacional de Águas were used, which were statistically (gap filling, data consistency, analysis of annual totals, quarterly totals, monthly totals, days with rainfall ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, simple daily intensity index - SDII, number of days with rains ≤ 1 mm, maximum length of the dry period - CDD and the maximum length of the dry period monthly – CDDmonthly), analyzed in terms of their dynamic throughout the series (variability, trends and extreme events) by applying the Mann-Kendall. The results showed that most of the series showed no significant tendency to changes, with normal variations encountered during the period. The low frequency climatic phenomena such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) were evaluated for their correspondences using the rainfall anomaly index (RAI). The results showed that both phenomena (ENSO and PDO) modulate annual rainfall in the region. It is also significant that the changes assessed by the Mann-Kendall in the twentieth century, on the occurrence of extreme precipitation events, showed a great relationship with the processes associated with sandization water dynamics. The increased frequency of these events during the twentieth century may have contributed to the intensification of the processes of sandization in the region. The results of climate modeling indicated increased rainfall in the seasons of spring, summer and fall, with increases rainfall in the months of November, January and March what may influence the sandization processes associated with torrential rainfall.

A exploração acelerada das águas subterrâneas pode acarretar em problemas de disponibilidade de água. Esse problema tende a ser acentuado devido as mudanças no clima previstas para as próximas décadas. Nesse contexto, este trabalho buscou avaliar os possíveis impactos das mudanças climáticas e do uso do solo sobre níveis de água subterrânea em zona de afloramento do Sistema Aquífero Guarani. Foram utilizadas simulações de Modelos de Circulação Global (MCG) como dados de entrada para um modelo transiente de fluxo hídrico subterrâneo, visando avaliar o comportamento dos nveis de água sob diferentes condições climáticas. Este modelo foi calibrado utilizando dados de níveis freáticos em seis poços localizados na bacia do Ribeirão da Onça (BRO). A partir de dados climáticos observados, estimou-se a recarga, usada como input no modelo matematico, em diversos tipos de cultura por meio do balanço hídrico. As maiores alterações nas médias pluviométricas mensais foram projetadas, pela maioria dos modelos climáticos, para ocorrer no perodo seco. No perodo chuvoso, as previsões indicaram que essas médias devem diminuir em torno de 50%. Quase 70% dos cenários climáticos geraram, no modelo transiente, variações dos nveis freáticos abaixo daqueles medidos no monitoramento entre 2004 e 2011. Em setores da área de estudo, o rebaixamento da superfície potenciométrica, simulada sob condições climáticas mais extremas previstas por alguns modelos, ultrapassou 10 m. Os cenários mais otimistas, embora tenham resultado em elevações dos níveis de água em mais metade da BRO, também geraram rebaixamentos de até 5 m. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade do contínuo monitoramento hidrogeológico, principalmente em áreas de recarga do SAG, e do desenvolvimento de outros trabalhos que quantiquem os impactos das mudanças climáticas, aplicando diferentes métodos de estimativa de recarga e downscaling. / The unsustainable use groundwater in many countries might cause water availability restrictions. Such issues are likely to worsen due to changes in climate, predicted for the incoming decades. In this context, the objective of this work was to assess possible climate and land use changes impacts on groundwater levels in the Guarani Aquifer System\'s (GAS) outcrop zone. Global Climate Models\' (GCM) outputs were used as inputs in a transient ux groundwater model. Thus, groundwater table uctuation could be evaluated under distinct climatic conditions. Six monitoring wells, located in the Ribeir~ao da Onca basin (ROB), provided water table measurements to calibrate the groundwater model. Using observed climatic data, a water budget method was applied to estimate recharge in dierent types of land uses. Statistically downscaled future climate scenarios were used as inputs in that same recharge model, which provided the inputs for SPA. Most of the GCMs used here predict temperature arises over 2°C. Major monthly rainfall mean changes are projected by the GCM great majority to take place in the dry season. During wet seasons, the predictions indicate those means might experience around 50% decrease. Water table variations, derived from the transient model under almost 70% of the climate scenarios, were below of those measured between 2004 and 2011. Few GCM predicted more extreme climate scenarios. In some regions of the study area and under these conditions, groundwater surface would decline more than 10 m. Although more optimistic scenarios resulted in an increase of groundwater levels in more than half of ROB, these would cause up to 5 m water table decline. The results reinforce the need for a permanent hydrogeological monitoring, mainly in the GAS recharge areas, along with the development of other climate change impacts assessment works using dierent downscaling and recharge estimates methods.

Na região da campanha gaúcha, no sudoeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, existem áreas que demonstram fragilidade em relação às características litológicas, pedológicas e da cobertura vegetal, principalmente, quando relacionadas às dinâmicas do clima. Os areais da região têm despertado especial atenção nas últimas décadas, devido a questões históricas, socioeconômicas e ambientais. O processo de arenização está relacionado à dinâmica de fenômenos naturais como as precipitações intensas e período de estiagens, estes associadas à dinâmica dos ventos. Contudo, frente aos estudos de simulação climática que projetam os possíveis cenários climáticos futuros, quais seriam as possíveis dinâmicas processuais na região dos areais? O presente trabalho tem por objetivo geral desenvolver um estudo observacional sobre a dinâmica das precipitações para a região no decorrer do século XX, buscando encontrar possíveis evidências de modificação na sua dinâmica em relação ao processo de arenização. O trabalho, também, analisou os dados de precipitação a partir do modelo downscaling Eta/CPTEC 40 km acoplado ao Modelo Climático Global HadCM3 para o cenário SRES A1B. Foram utilizados dados pluviométricos diários dos postos de Alegrete (RS) disponíveis pela Agência Nacional de Águas, os quais foram tratados estatisticamente (preenchimento de falhas, consistência dos dados, análise dos totais anuais, totais trimestrais, totais mensais, dias com chuvas ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, índice simples de intensidade diária – SDII, número de dias com chuvas ≤ 1 mm, comprimento máximo do período seco – CDD e o comprimento máximo do período seco mensal – CDDmês), em relação a sua dinâmica no decorrer da série (variabilidade, tendências e ocorrência de eventos extremos) através da aplicação do Teste de Mann-Kendall de significância estatística. Após a aplicação deste teste, os resultados demonstraram que a maior parte da série não apresentou tendência significativa à modificação, sendo encontradas variações normais durante o período analisado. Em relação aos fenômenos climáticos de baixa frequência como o El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) e a Oscilação Decadal do Pacífico (ODP), foram verificadas suas correspondências utilizando o Índice de Anomalia de Chuva. Após sua aplicação, os resultados demonstraram que ambos os fenômenos (ENOS e ODP) modulam as precipitações anuais na região. Verificou-se, também, que as mudanças consideradas significativas pelo Teste de Mann-Kendall no século XX, sobretudo quanto à ocorrência de eventos extremos de precipitação, apresentaram forte relação com os processos de arenização associados à dinâmica hídrica. O aumento da frequência desses eventos no decorrer do século XX pode ter contribuído para a intensificação de parte dos processos de arenização na região. Já os resultados da modelagem climática apontaram para um aumento das precipitações nas estações da primavera, verão e outono, com incrementos pluviométricos nos meses de novembro, janeiro e março, que podem vir a influenciar nos processos arenização associados às precipitações torrenciais. / In the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Campos/grassland there are areas showing fragility related to soil, vegetation and climatic characteristics. The sands of the region in recent decades have attracted special attention due to historical issues, socio economic and environmental factors. The process of sandization is related to the dynamics of natural phenomena such as intense rainfall and drought period, which are associated to winds dynamic. However, compared to studies of climate simulation to design the possible future climate scenarios, which would be possible in the area dynamics of sands? The aim of this study is to develop observational analysis on the dynamics of rainfall for the region during the twentieth century, trying to find possible evidence of change in its dynamics in relation to the process of sandization. The study analyzed rainfall data from climate simulation of the precipitation from the downscaling model Eta / CPTEC 40 km coupled to the Global Climate Model output of HadCM3 for the SRES A1B scenario. Daily rainfall data of stations Alegrete (RS) available through the Agência Nacional de Águas were used, which were statistically (gap filling, data consistency, analysis of annual totals, quarterly totals, monthly totals, days with rainfall ≥ 1, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100 mm, simple daily intensity index - SDII, number of days with rains ≤ 1 mm, maximum length of the dry period - CDD and the maximum length of the dry period monthly – CDDmonthly), analyzed in terms of their dynamic throughout the series (variability, trends and extreme events) by applying the Mann-Kendall. The results showed that most of the series showed no significant tendency to changes, with normal variations encountered during the period. The low frequency climatic phenomena such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) were evaluated for their correspondences using the rainfall anomaly index (RAI). The results showed that both phenomena (ENSO and PDO) modulate annual rainfall in the region. It is also significant that the changes assessed by the Mann-Kendall in the twentieth century, on the occurrence of extreme precipitation events, showed a great relationship with the processes associated with sandization water dynamics. The increased frequency of these events during the twentieth century may have contributed to the intensification of the processes of sandization in the region. The results of climate modeling indicated increased rainfall in the seasons of spring, summer and fall, with increases rainfall in the months of November, January and March what may influence the sandization processes associated with torrential rainfall.

The long-term global mean temperature depends on the total amount of anthropogenic CO2 emitted. This direct link between temperature and cumulative CO2 emissions has implications for policymakers, as the cumulative emissions framework identifies the total amount of carbon that can be emitted, referred to as a cumulative carbon budget, that is consistent with reaching stabilization of the global mean temperature at desired levels, such as 1.5 °C or 2.0 °C warming above the pre-industrial level. This dissertation is a compilation of three studies that explore the relationship between warming and cumulative carbon emissions at high amounts of total carbon emitted (Project I; Chapter 2), its sensitivity to non-CO2 forcing (Project II; Chapter 3), and constraining the climate model responses with observations, in order to provide more accurate estimates of the carbon budget consistent with 1.5 °C warming above the pre-industrial level (Project III; Chapter 4). A joint summary of the key findings from each project, and their significance, is presented in Chapter 5. / Graduate / 2018-05-29