TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TRENDS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HUIXTLA RIVER BASIN IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Abstract

The objective of this work was to analyze whether there is a trend in climate change in the Huixtla River basin on the Mexican Pacific coast in the State of Chiapas. To detect this, temperature and precipitation trends were analyzed using data for the 1960–2014 period and the 27 indices proposed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) at Despoblado, Escuintla, Finca Chicharras, Huehuetán, Huixtla, and Motozintla weather stations of the National Meteorological Service (SMN). Missing data were collected where necessary for precipitation using the U.S. National Wheater Service method and for temperatures using the Climate Engine platform. The indices were obtained with RClimDex by conducting the proposed data quality controls and classified on the basis of their statistical significance (0.05) and their increasing or decreasing trend. Among the changes found, higher temperatures were detected in the middle and lower western parts of the basin (TX90p), as well as a longer period of hot days (WSDI). The upper and lower eastern parts of the basin presented a shorter period of hot days. The upper and lower parts of the basin showed a cooling trend, with colder days (TX10p) over longer periods (CSDI). Across the basin, precipitation has increased by one and five days (RX1day and RX5day) as well as in total amount (PRCPTOT). In general, there were shorter dry periods (CDD) and longer wet periods (CWD). Rainfall above the R5mm, R10mm, R20mm, R70mm, and R150mm thresholds across the basin showed an increasing trend.