| This paper documents the main features of the weather, climate and climate
variability over Andes cordillera in South America on the basis of
instrumental observations. We first provide a basic physical understanding
of the mean annual cycle of the atmospheric circulation and precipitation
and over the Andes and adjacent lowlands. In particular, the diversity of
precipitation, temperature and wind patterns is interpreted in terms of the
long meridional extent of the Andes and the disruption of the large-scale
circulation by this formidable topographic barrier. We also document the
impact of the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon on the temperature
and precipitation regimes along the Andes. |