Climate characterization of the San Juan River watershed, Santiago de Cuba
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Abstract
The climatic characterization of river basins is fundamental for environmental management and sustainable development planning. This study aimed to characterize the climate of the San Juan River basin in Santiago de Cuba, analyzing the variables of temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed. Homogenized climate databases (1992–2010 for temperature, humidity, and wind; 1961–2008 for precipitation), provided by the Provincial Meteorological Center, were used, and spatial distribution maps were created using the QGIS 3.16 Geographic Information System. The results showed a marked influence of land use and topography: urbanized areas presented the highest temperatures (26.1–26.3 °C) and lowest humidity, while rural areas such as Siboney and El Escandel recorded cooler (19.1–20.0 °C) and more humid conditions. Average annual rainfall ranged from 1000 to 1400 mm, with a hyperannual maximum of 225–450 mm near the city, and showed a clear seasonality. Wind speed was higher during the dry season, peaking in February (4.51–5.0 m/s). It was concluded that the identified climatic patterns, with their marked seasonality and spatial variation, constitute an essential basis for land-use planning, water management, and risk prevention in the watershed.
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