Characterization of Temperature and Precipitation Variables in the Coastal Mountainous Municipality of Guamá: Successive Approximations

Abstract

The coastal mountainous municipality of Guamá, due to its geographical location, exhibits significant fragility and vulnerability. The climate plays a fundamental role in its socio-economic development. Analysis-synthesis and comparative-analytical methods were employed to evaluate the spatial behavior of various climatic variables. Information generated by the Provincial Meteorological Centre of Santiago de Cuba, along with the findings of the project “Climatic Characterization of the Mountainous Provinces in the Eastern Region of Cuba” (Mountain Climate), was utilized. Annual average series and data from rainy and dry periods for meteorological variables such as temperature and precipitation were used, sourced from 18 stations operated by the National Meteorological System between 1992 and 2010, as well as information from the pluviometric network spanning from 1961 to 2008. This research aimed to characterize the climatic variables of temperature and precipitation, as well as their behavior during rainy and dry periods within the municipality. The findings confirmed that there are differences in the behavior of both variables across ecosystems. Coastal areas recorded higher temperatures, especially during the rainy season, while these decreased in mountainous areas during the dry season. Precipitation was more abundant in mountainous areas, particularly in the rainy season. The results obtained can be used as a reference material for the strategic planning of socio-economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector.