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Sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the tropical Atlantic Ocean strongly impacts the climate on the surrounding continents. On interannual time scales, highest SST variability occurs in the eastern equatorial region and off the coast of southwestern Africa. The pattern of SST variability resembles the Pacific El Niño, but features notable differences, and has been discussed in the context of various climate modes, that is, reoccurring patterns resulting from particular interactions in the climate system. Here, we attempt to reconcile those different definitions, concluding that almost all of them are essentially describing the same mode that we refer to as the “Atlantic Niño.” We give an overview of the mechanisms that have been proposed to underlie this mode, and we discuss its interaction with other climate modes within and outside the tropical Atlantic. The impact of Atlantic Niño‐related SST variability on rainfall, in particular over the Gulf of Guinea and north eastern South America is also described. An important aspect we highlight is that the Atlantic Niño and its teleconnections are not stationary, but subject to multidecadal modulations. Simulating the Atlantic Niño proves a challenge for state‐of‐the‐art climate models, and this may be partly due to the large mean state biases in the region. Potential reasons for these model biases and implications for seasonal prediction are discussed., N.S.K., B.R.F., M.M.R., and I.P. benefited from funding from the EU FP7/2007‐2013 PREFACE Project (grant 603521). T.L. is supported with funds from the MINECO under the Juan de la Cierva‐Incorporación Programme (IJCI‐2015‐26645).

The Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) is the leading mode of Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) variability at multidecadal time scales. Previous studies have shown that the AMO could modulate El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variance. However, the role played by the AMO in the tropical Atlantic variability (TAV) is still uncertain. Here, it is demonstrated that during negative AMO phases, associated with a shallower thermocline, the eastern equatorial Atlantic SST variability is enhanced by more than 150% in boreal summer. Consequently, the interannual TAV modes are modified. During negative AMO, the Atlantic Niño displays larger amplitude and a westward extension and it is preceded by a simultaneous weakening of both subtropical highs in winter and spring. In contrast, a meridional seesaw SLP pattern evolving into a zonal gradient leads the Atlantic Niño during positive AMO. The north tropical Atlantic (NTA) mode is related to a Scandinavian blocking pattern during winter and spring in negative AMO, while under positive AMO it is part of the SST tripole associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation. Interestingly, the emergence of an overlooked variability mode, here called the horseshoe (HS) pattern on account of its shape, is favored during negative AMO. This anomalous warm (cool) HS surrounding an eastern equatorial cooling (warming) is remotely forced by an ENSO phenomenon. During negative AMO, the tropical–extratropical teleconnections are enhanced and the Walker circulation is altered. This, together with the increased equatorial SST variability, could promote the ENSO impacts on TAV. The results herein give a step forward in the better understanding of TAV, which is essential to improving its modeling, impacts, and predictability.

West African societies are highly dependent on the West African Monsoon (WAM). Thus, a correct representation of the WAM in climate models is of paramount importance. In this article, the ability of 8 CMIP5 historical General Circulation Models (GCMs) and 4 CORDEX-Africa Regional Climate Models (RCMs) to characterize the WAM dynamics and variability is assessed for the period July-August-September 1979–2004. Simulations are compared with observations. Uncertainties in RCM performance and lateral boundary conditions are assessed individually. Results show that both GCMs and RCMs have trouble to simulate the northward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in boreal summer. The greatest bias improvements are obtained after regionalization of the most inaccurate GCM simulations. To assess WAM variability, a Maximum Covariance Analysis is performed between Sea Surface Temperature and precipitation anomalies in observations, GCM and RCM simulations. The assessed variability patterns are: El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO); the eastern Mediterranean (MED); and the Atlantic Equatorial Mode (EM). Evidence is given that regionalization of the ENSO–WAM teleconnection does not provide any added value. Unlike GCMs, RCMs are unable to precisely represent the ENSO impact on air subsidence over West Africa. Contrastingly, the simulation of the MED–WAM teleconnection is improved after regionalization. Humidity advection and convergence over the Sahel area are better simulated by RCMs. Finally, no robust conclusions can be determined for the EM–WAM teleconnection, which cannot be isolated for the 1979–2004 period. The novel results in this article will help to select the most appropriate RCM simulations to study WAM teleconnections., This study has been supported by the European Commission’s research project PREFACE (EU/FP7 2007–2013; ref. 603521). Iñigo Gómara is also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (“Juan de la Cierva-Formación” contract; FJCI-2015-23874).

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic element for living organisms and is known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify. Here, we analyze the response of benthic foraminifera communities cultured in mesocosm and exposed to different concentrations of Hg. Standard morphological analyses and environmental DNA metabarcoding show evidence that Hg pollution has detrimental effects on benthic foraminifera. The molecular analysis provides a more complete view of foraminiferal communities including the soft-walled single-chambered monothalamiids and small-sized hard-shelled rotaliids and textulariids than the morphological one. Among these taxa that are typically overlooked in morphological studies we found potential bioindicators of Hg pollution. The mesocosm approach proves to be an effective method to study benthic foraminiferal responses to various types and concentrations of pollutants over time. This study further supports foraminiferal metabarcoding as a complementary and/or alternative method to standard biomonitoring program based on the morphological identification of species communities.

The thermocline is defined as the ocean layer for which the vertical thermal gradient is maximum. In the equatorial ocean, observations led to the use of the 20 °C isotherm depth (z20) as an estimate of the thermocline. This study compares z20 against the physical thermocline in the equatorial Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, using Simple Ocean Data Assimilation reanalysis and fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project preindustrial control simulations. Our results show that z20 is systematically deeper and flatter than the thermocline and does not respond correctly to surface wind stress variations. It is also shown that the annual cycle of z20 is much weaker than that of the physical thermocline. This happens in both equatorial basins and indicates that z20 does not react to the same mechanisms as the thermocline. This could have important consequences in the assessment of air‐sea coupling in current general circulation models and bias reduction strategies., The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement 603521 (PREFACE project) and from the Spanish Ministry of Science (Project PRE4CAST, CGL2017‐86415‐R).

It has been shown that the atmospheric response to the Atlantic Equatorial Mode is non-stationary. After the 1970s, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Atlantic are able to alter the atmosphere in the tropical Pacific via modifications of the Walker circulation. Such changes could be related to the differences in the background state of the global SSTs before and after the 1970s, but also to changes in the interannual Equatorial Mode itself. In this work we first describe the differences in the interannual Equatorial Mode before and after the 1970s. Then we use two AGCMs to perform different sensitivity experiments changing the spatial structure of the Equatorial Mode, and we explore the differences in the atmospheric response over the tropical Pacific region to each of the SST patterns considered. It is shown that the changes in the Walker Atlantic–Pacific cell produced by the EM are stronger after the 1970s, and are reinforced by the change in the impact of the EM over the Indian Ocean and the Maritime Continent. It is also shown that, although the Atlantic–Pacific connection is established by the aforementioned changes in the Walker circulation between the two basins, the modulation of the Indian sector is crucial for a realistic simulation of such connection by climate models., The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement No. 603521 (PREFACE Project), and by the Spanish Project CGL2012-38923-C02-01.

A erosão do solo no cultivo de mandioca causa os declínios no rendimento e na qualidade das raízes. Comparou-se o plantio convencional (CONV) da mandioca IAC 576-70, incorporando com aração e gradagem os resíduos das culturas de cobertura: Sorgo (S), Crotalária (C), Coquetel (S+C), Brachiaria decumbens e B. ruziziensis; com o sistema de plantio direto (SPD), mediante a roçada. Sorgo e B. ruziziensis aportaram em média 3,5 t ha-¹ de matéria seca, com taxa de cobertura do solo superior a 80 %, cuja produtividade de 23,9 t ha-¹ no SPD foi 7,0 t ha-¹ inferior ao convencional; porém, equivalentes o índice de colheita (53 %), a massa fresca total e o tempo de cozimento. A colheita da mandioca no SPD aos 10 meses acumulou 63,5 t ha-¹ de fitomassa fresca, minimizando a erosão.

The study analyses the annual structure of dry spells over the Iberian Peninsula through a second markov chain model based on the persistence concept under present and future conditions. The persistence of dryness can be considered as an indicator of drought, being useful for early warning drought systems. It can be studied as an isolated factor, here we focus the analysis on the probability of dry spells occurrence at each grid point of the domain by means of a two-state second order of Markov Chain model. Previous studies using this model along twentieth century observational data obtained successful results in the dry spells characterisation over several regions. First, the application of this theoretical model on three observational datasets over the domain, confirms the second order of markov chain characteristics of the observed dry spells. Then, the observational climate (1989–2007) EraInterim-forced regional climate model simulations from Spanish ESCENA project are successfully compared with those observational datasets results. Then, the study of climate change projections on the markovian behaviour is studied through the ECHAM5r2 global climate model and the regional models under present (1970–2000) and future (2021–2050) climate conditions. They indicate that the markovian characteristics of dry spells are kept in the future over the domain except some points in the South East coast. A decrease of the probability of occurrence of short dry spells (1–7 days) is obtained, while the longest dry spells (>12 days) are increased. These results are coherent with the analysis of the annual average of dry spells length.

Since the Mediterranean Sea is halfway between subtropical and middle latitudes, and it represents a marginal oceanic region, research has tended to focus on how large-scale modes of atmospheric variability modulate its surface temperature. Conversely, the present study examines the potential influence of the Mediterranean Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies on the Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation. In particular, this work explores the large-scale changes in the global circulation forced/influenced by the eastern Mediterranean summer-autumn SST pattern. To isolate the atmospheric response, AGCM sensitivity experiments with prescribed SST over the Mediterranean Sea and climatology elsewhere are analysed. Observational diagnostics upon the period used to define the boundary conditions (1979–2002) are also interpreted. Our results support the hypothesis of an atmospheric pattern initiated in the Mediterranean basin, pointing out both a local baroclinic response and a barotropic circumglobal anomaly. This atmospheric teleconnection pattern projects onto a hemispheric wave-like structure, reflecting the waveguide effect of the westerly jets. Results suggest, thereby, that the recurrent summer-autumn circumglobal teleconnection pattern can be excited locally by changes in the atmosphere over the Mediterranean region. A linear behaviour is found upon a regional impact over northeastern Africa. The remote impacts present however a nonlinear signature: anomalous warm conditions influencing on northern Europe and Euro–Asia, whereas anomalous cold conditions impacting more on the North Pacific basin. Limitations in our model setup are also discussed.

Many studies point to a robust ENSO signature on the North Atlantic–European (NAE) sector associated with a downstream effect of Rossby wave trains. Some of these works also address a nonstationary behavior of the aforementioned link, but only few have explored the possible modulating factors. In this study the internal causes within the ocean–atmosphere coupled system influencing the tropospheric ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection have been analyzed. To this aim, unforced long-term preindustrial control simulations from 18 different CMIP5 models have been used. A nonstationary impact of ENSO on Euro-Mediterranean rainfall, being spatially consistent with the observational one, is found. This variable feature is explained by a changing ENSO-related Rossby wave propagation from the tropical Pacific to the NAE sector, which, in turn, is modulated by multidecadal variability of the climatological jet streams associated with the underlying sea surface temperature (SST). The results, therefore, indicate a modulation of the ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection by the internal (and multidecadal) variability of the ocean–atmosphere coupled system., This study was supported by the European project PREFACE (603521), and the Spanish projects TRACS (CGL2009-10285) and MULCLIVAR (CGL2012- 38923-C02-01).

In this paper, the teleconnections from the tropical Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific region from inter-annual to centennial time scales will be reviewed. Identified teleconnections and hypotheses on mechanisms at work are reviewed and further explored in a century-long pacemaker coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation ensemble. There is a substantial impact of the tropical Atlantic on the Pacific region at inter-annual time scales. An Atlantic Nino (Nina) event leads to rising (sinking) motion in the Atlantic region, which is compensated by sinking (rising) motion in the central-western Pacific. The sinking (rising) motion in the central-western Pacific induces easterly (westerly) surface wind anomalies just to the west, which alter the thermocline. These perturbations propagate eastward as upwelling (downwelling) Kelvin-waves, where they increase the probability for a La Nina (El Nino) event. Moreover, tropical North Atlantic sea surface temperature anomalies are also able to lead La Nina/El Nino development. At multidecadal time scales, a positive (negative) Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation leads to a cooling (warming) of the eastern Pacific and a warming (cooling) of the western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. The physical mechanism for this impact is similar to that at inter-annual time scales. At centennial time scales, the Atlantic warming induces a substantial reduction of the eastern Pacific warming even under CO_2 increase and to a strong subsurface cooling.

The atmospheric seasonal cycle of the North Atlantic region is dominated by meridional movements of the circulation systems: from the tropics, where the West African Monsoon and extreme tropical weather events take place, to the extratropics, where the circulation is dominated by seasonal changes in the jetstream and extratropical cyclones. Climate variability over the North Atlantic is controlled by various mechanisms. Atmospheric internal variability plays a crucial role in the mid-latitudes. However, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is still the main source of predictability in this region situated far away from the Pacific. Although the ENSO influence over tropical and extra-tropical areas is related to different physical mechanisms, in both regions this teleconnection seems to be non-stationary in time and modulated by multidecadal changes of the mean flow. Nowadays, long observational records (greater than 100 years) and modeling projects (e.g., CMIP) permit detecting non-stationarities in the influence of ENSO over the Atlantic basin, and further analyzing its potential mechanisms. The present article reviews the ENSO influence over the Atlantic region, paying special attention to the stability of this teleconnection over time and the possible modulators. Evidence is given that the ENSO–Atlantic teleconnection is weak over the North Atlantic. In this regard, the multidecadal ocean variability seems to modulate the presence of teleconnections, which can lead to important impacts of ENSO and to open windows of opportunity for seasonal predictability., Research projects PREFACE (EUFP7/2007-2013 Grant Agreement 603521) and MULCLIVAR (CGL2012-38923-C02-01-Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness)

The Atlantic Niño or Atlantic Equatorial Mode (EM) is the dominant coupled variability phenomenon in the tropical Atlantic basin during boreal summer. From the 1970s, the mode has changed, evolving in time from east to west and without persisting until the following winter. In a previous observational work, the authors have studied the atmospheric response to the EM during the 1979–2005 period, proposing three main issues along the decaying phase of this mode: 1) the continuous confinement of the anomalous deep convection over northeastern Brazil following the thermal-forcing decay; 2) an increasing dipole-like precipitation anomaly with dry conditions in the Florida–Gulf of Mexico region; and 3) the excitation of Rossby waves forced by the remaining upper-tropospheric divergence that are trapped into the subtropical jet but do not show a robust impact on the European sector. In this work, a 10-member ensemble simulation for the recent EM with the University of California, Los Angeles AGCM model has been analyzed for assessing the evolution of the atmospheric response to the summer Atlantic Niño decay. Results from the sensitivity experiment support that the former and the latter findings can be interpreted in terms of the Atlantic thermal forcing; while the negative rainfall anomalies in the western subtropical basin require an external forcing outside the tropical Atlantic. Prior studies point at the peaking Pacific El Niño as a potential player. An important conclusion of this work is that the seasonal atmospheric response to the Atlantic Niño decaying phase is mainly determined by the climatological jet stream’s position and intensity. In this way, this response shows an arching pattern over the North Atlantic region during summer–autumn and a zonally oriented wave train during autumn–winter.

Using nine microsatellite loci, we investigated genetic structure and diversity in 83 Brazilian cassava accessions, including several landraces, in the Cerrado biome in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. All nine loci were polymorphic, averaging 6.00 alleles per locus. Treating each of seven municipalities as a cassava group or population, they averaged 3.5 alleles per locus, with 97% polymorphic loci, high values for observed heterozygosity (0.32) and gene diversity (0.56). Total genetic variability was high (0.668), and most of this genetic variability was concentrated within municipalities (0.577). Cluster and structure analyses divided accessions into two major clusters or populations (K = 2). Also, a significant genetic versus geographic correlation was found (r = 0.4567; P < 0.0260). Migratory routes in the Cerrado are considered main contributors to the region’s high cassava diversity and spatial genetic structure, amplifying interactions between traditional farmers and the evolutionary dynamics of this crop.

The West African Monsoon has been simulated with the regional climate model PROMES, coupled to the land-surface model ORCHIDEE and nested in ECMWF analysis, within AMMA-EU project. Three different runs are presented to address the influence of changes in two parameterizations (moist convection and radiation) on the simulated West African Monsoon. Another aim of the study is to get an insight into the relationship of simulated precipitation and 2-m temperature with land-surface fluxes. To this effect, data from the AMMA land-surface model intercomparison project (ALMIP) have been used. In ALMIP, offline simulations have been made using the same land-surface model than in the coupled simulation presented here, which makes ALMIP data particularly relevant for the present study, as it enables us to analyse the simulated soil and land-surface fields. The simulation of the monsoon depends clearly on the two analysed parameterizations. The inclusion of shallow convection parametrization affects the intensity of the simulated monsoon precipitation and modifies some dynamical aspects of the monsoon. The use of a fractional cloud-cover parameterization and a more complex radiation scheme is important for better reproducing the amplitude of the latitudinal displacement of the precipitation band. This is associated to an improved simulation of the surface temperature field and the easterly jets. However, the parameterization changes do not affect the timing of the main rainy and break periods of the monsoon. A better representation of downward solar radiation is associated with a smaller bias in the surface heat fluxes. The comparison with ALMIP land-surface and soil fields shows that precipitation and temperature biases in the regional climate model simulation are associated to certain biases in land-surface fluxes. The biases in soil moisture seem to be driven by atmospheric biases as they are strongly affected by the parameterization changes in atmospheric processes.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é uma das culturas mais importantes na alimentação humana dos trópicos, principalmente para as populações de baixa renda. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar e selecionar clones-elite de mandioca de mesa com relação aos aspectos químicos, agronômicos e tecnológicos. Foram avaliados 12 clones do Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Mandioca de Mesa do IAC, em comparação à variedade-testemunha IAC 576-70, quanto a parâmetros de produtividade de raízes, tempo de cozimento, compostos cianogênicos, carotenóides totais, β-caroteno, vitamina A e componentes minerais. Dez clones se destacaram pela alta produtividade. O tempo médio de cozimento foi elevado, de 43,8 minutos. Entre os clones, apenas no 66/99 observou-se teor de compostos cianogênicos (160,1 mg eq. HCN kg-1) acima do limite de segurança de consumo, valor igual a 100 mg eq. HCN kg-1. No clone 108/00 notaram-se maiores teores de carotenóides totais, β-caroteno e vitamina A, respectivamente, iguais a 1108,1 µg 100 g-1, 940,1 µg 100 g-1 e 523 UI 100 g-1, superiores às médias da variedade-testemunha. Dois clones destacaram-se pelos valores superiores em 44% de zinco e 53% de ferro, quando comparados à variedade IAC 576-70. Ao considerar o tempo de cozimento, a alta produtividade e os baixos teores de compostos cianogênicos como características essenciais em uma variedade de mandioca para mesa e ressaltando o enfoque da biofortificação dos componentes mineriais, carotenóides e vitamina A, o genótipo mais promissor a se tornar uma variedade é o clone 265/97. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important crops for human nutrition in the tropics, especially for low-income populations. This study aimed at to evaluate and select elite clones of sweet cassava regarding to chemical, agronomic and technological aspects, twelve clones of Instituto Agronômico breeding program were compared to control variety IAC 576-70 as to yield of roots, cooking, time, cyanogen compounds, total carotenoids, β-carotene, vitamin A and mineral components. Ten clones showed high yields. Average cooking time was high, 43.8 minutes. Among clones, only 66/99 showed content of cyanogen compounds (160.1 mg eq. HCN kg-1) above the limit (100 mg eq. HCN kg-1) for safety consumption. Clone 108/00 presented the highest content of total carotenoids, β-carotene and vitamin A, respectively, 1108.1 µg 100 g-1, 940.1µg 100g-1 and 523 IU 100 g-1, higher than the control. Two clones showed zinc and iron content respectively 44% and 53% higher than the control variety. Considering yield, cooking, low content of cyanogens mineral components, carotenoids and vitamin A, clone 265/97 is the most promising genotype as a potential new variety.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é uma das culturas mais importantes na alimentação humana dos trópicos, principalmente para as populações de baixa renda. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar e selecionar clones-elite de mandioca de mesa com relação aos aspectos químicos, agronômicos e tecnológicos. Foram avaliados 12 clones do Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Mandioca de Mesa do IAC, em comparação à variedade-testemunha IAC 576-70, quanto a parâmetros de produtividade de raízes, tempo de cozimento, compostos cianogênicos, carotenóides totais, β-caroteno, vitamina A e componentes minerais. Dez clones se destacaram pela alta produtividade. O tempo médio de cozimento foi elevado, de 43,8 minutos. Entre os clones, apenas no 66/99 observou-se teor de compostos cianogênicos (160,1 mg eq. HCN kg-1) acima do limite de segurança de consumo, valor igual a 100 mg eq. HCN kg-1. No clone 108/00 notaram-se maiores teores de carotenóides totais, β-caroteno e vitamina A, respectivamente, iguais a 1108,1 µg 100 g-1, 940,1 µg 100 g-1 e 523 UI 100 g-1, superiores às médias da variedade-testemunha. Dois clones destacaram-se pelos valores superiores em 44% de zinco e 53% de ferro, quando comparados à variedade IAC 576-70. Ao considerar o tempo de cozimento, a alta produtividade e os baixos teores de compostos cianogênicos como características essenciais em uma variedade de mandioca para mesa e ressaltando o enfoque da biofortificação dos componentes mineriais, carotenóides e vitamina A, o genótipo mais promissor a se tornar uma variedade é o clone 265/97.Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important crops for human nutrition in the tropics, especially for low-income populations. This study aimed at to evaluate and select elite clones of sweet cassava regarding to chemical, agronomic and technological aspects, twelve clones of Instituto Agronômico breeding program were compared to control variety IAC 576-70 as to yield of roots, cooking, time, cyanogen compounds, total carotenoids, β-carotene, vitamin A and mineral components. Ten clones showed high yields. Average cooking time was high, 43.8 minutes. Among clones, only 66/99 showed content of cyanogen compounds (160.1 mg eq. HCN kg-1) above the limit (100 mg eq. HCN kg-1) for safety consumption. Clone 108/00 presented the highest content of total carotenoids, β-carotene and vitamin A, respectively, 1108.1 µg 100 g-1, 940.1µg 100g-1 and 523 IU 100 g-1, higher than the control. Two clones showed zinc and iron content respectively 44% and 53% higher than the control variety. Considering yield, cooking, low content of cyanogens mineral components, carotenoids and vitamin A, clone 265/97 is the most promising genotype as a potential new variety.

International audience; On the frame of the AMMA-EU project, sensitivity experiments for an Atlantic Equatorial mode (AEM) which origin, development and damping resembles the observed one during the last decades of the 20th century, has been analysed in order to investigate the influence on the anomalous summer West African rainfall. Recent studies raise the matter of the AEM influence on the next Pacific ENSO episodes and also on the Indian Monsoon. This paper evaluates the response of four different atmospheric global circulation models, using the above-mentioned AEM sensitivity experiments, to study the tropical forcing associated with the Atlantic Niño mode. The results show a remote signal in both the Pacific and Indian basins. For a warm phase of the AEM the associated southward location of the ITCZ, with rising motions over the Equatorial Atlantic, leads to a global subsidence over the rest of the tropics, weakening the Asian Monsoon and favouring the La Niña conditions in the central Pacific. Although ocean-atmosphere coupled experiments are required to test the latter hypothesis, the present studies shows how the AEM is able to influence the rest of the tropics, a result with important implications on ENSO seasonal predictability.

Foram avaliados sistemas orgânicos de produção de mandioca "de mesa", em Seropédica (RJ). O experimento constou dos seguintes tratamentos: monocultivo de mandioca (cv. IAC 576-70) e consórcios com milho experimental (cv. Eldorado), caupi (cv. Mauá) e milho+caupi. O manejo orgânico foi padronizado e toda a área experimental irrigada durante o período de permanência do milho no sistema. Do milho, foram colhidas espigas verdes (imaturas) e a parte aérea acamada na superfície do solo. O caupi foi incluído como adubo verde e cortado na floração, sendo mantidos os resíduos na superfície do solo. Ambos os consortes ocuparam as entrelinhas da mandioca, de modo alternado, semeados após a primeira capina da cultura principal. A cultivar IAC 576-70 mostrou-se adaptada ao manejo orgânico, com produtividade de raízes de padrão comercial próxima a 31 Mg ha-1. Não houve diferenças significativas entre o monocultivo e os três tipos de consórcios testados. A inclusão do milho representou potencial de renda adicional ao produtor, colhendo-se, em média, 18.125 espigas ha-1, o que correspondeu a 5,1 Mg ha-1. Os resíduos provenientes da roçada do caupi proporcionaram um aporte de biomassa fresca de 12 Mg ha-1, com uma expressiva contribuição em nitrogênio (cerca de 44 kg de N ha-1). A fabácea (leguminosa) cobriu por completo as entrelinhas da mandioca, demonstrando seu potencial de controle à erosão e a ervas espontâneas. O consórcio triplo mostrou-se vantajoso tendo em vista que a receita obtida com a venda do milho verde justificaria os custos da irrigação, além dos benefícios da inclusão do caupi e da não interferência dos consortes na produtividade da mandioca.Organic systems were evaluated for cassava root production directed to human comsumption in natura, at Seropédica-RJ. Treatments consisted of: cassava ('IAC 576-70') in single cropping and its intercropping with corn ('Eldorado'), cowpea ('Mauá') or corn plus cowpea. The organic management was standardized and the experimental area was submitted to artificial irrigation during the period of stay of maize in the system. "Green" (immature) corn ears were harvested at the "point" required for fresh marketing and the shoot placed on the ground. The cowpea was included to function as green manure being cut at flowering with residues left on the soil surface. Corn and cowpea were sown between cassava rows, in an alternate design, following the first weeding of the main crop (cassava). The cultivar IAC 576-70 showed suitability with respect to organic management, yielding approximatelu 31 Mg ha-1 of marketable roots. No significant differences were detected between cassava single cropping and any of the intercropping tested systems. Thus, corn crop has considerable potential for additional income to the growers. Yield of 'Eldorado' corn averaged 18.125 ears ha-1 correspponding to 5,1 Mg ha-1. Residues coming from cowpea cutting brought about an input close to 12 Mg ha-1, which meant an expressive contribution in nutrient elements, especially nitrogen (about 44 kg N ha-1). The legume crop, in addition, completely covered cassava inter-rows demonstrating its potential for controlling erosion and weeds. The triple intercropping becomes advantageous considering that corn harvesting would justify irrigation and that inclusion of cowpea meant benefitial effects to the system and did not interfere on cassava yield.

This work presents a description of the 1979–2002 tropical Atlantic (TA) SST variability modes coupled to the anomalous West African (WA) rainfall during the monsoon season. The time-evolving SST patterns, with an impact on WA rainfall variability, are analyzed using a new methodology based on maximum covariance analysis. The enhanced Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) dataset, which includes measures over the ocean, gives a complete picture of the interannual WA rainfall patterns for the Sahel dry period. The leading TA SST pattern, related to the Atlantic El Niño, is coupled to anomalous precipitation over the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, which corresponds to the second WA rainfall principal component. The thermodynamics and dynamics involved in the generation, development, and damping of this mode are studied and compared with previous works. The SST mode starts at the Angola/Benguela region and is caused by alongshore wind anomalies. It then propagates westward via Rossby waves and damps because of latent heat flux anomalies and Kelvin wave eastward propagation from an off-equatorial forcing. The second SST mode includes the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, showing how the Mediterranean SST anomalies are those that are directly associated with the Sahelian rainfall. The global signature of the TA SST patterns is analyzed, adding new insights about the Pacific–Atlantic link in relation to WA rainfall during this period. Also, this global picture suggests that the Mediterranean SST anomalies are a fingerprint of large-scale forcing.This work updates the results given by other authors, whose studies are based on different datasets dating back to the 1950s, including both the wet and the dry Sahel periods.

The ways in which deep convection over the tropical Atlantic affects the midlatitude climate variability through meridional circulation, planetary wave teleconnection, and wave–mean flow interaction is examined for the 1979–2002 period, by following the North Atlantic anomalous rainfall evolution from summer to late winter. In this way, the first two covariability modes between anomalous summer tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) and anomalous summer–late-winter precipitation over the North Atlantic basin are analyzed using the same methodology of extended maximum covariance analysis developed for Part I. This work updates the results given by other authors, whose studies are based on different datasets dating back to the 1950s. To this end, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) dataset, which includes measures over the ocean, is used to give a complete picture of the interannual rainfall patterns for the last decades. The first mode, which accounts for more than 40% of the squared covariance fraction (SCF), involves SST anomalies related to the equatorial mode or Atlantic Niño. Its atmospheric response shows variations of the Atlantic Hadley and Ferrel circulations, reinforcing the direct and indirect circulation cells, respectively, displacements of the Atlantic Walker circulation, and the excitation of Rossby waves, which are trapped in the North African–Asian jet. The second mode, which accounts for 15% of the SCF, is associated with the summer horseshoe and winter tripole SST patterns. The related atmospheric circulation anomalies include direct thermal forcing (altering the local Hadley cell), perturbations in the ITCZ, and wavelike responses from the Caribbean region. The method used in this work highlights the seasonal dependence of the modes, in contrast to previous work that neglects to take into account the month-to-month evolution of these modes. The results add new and valuable information to the understanding of these modes from the important period back to the 1980s.

The present paper selects the northern winter of December 1995–February 1996 for a case study on the impact of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies on the atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic and Western Europe. In the Atlantic, the selected winter was characterized by positive SST anomalies over the northern subtropics and east of Newfoundland, and negative anomalies along the US coast. A weak La Nina event developed in the Pacific. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index was low, precipitation over the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa was anomalously high, and precipitation over northern Europe was anomalously low. The method of study consists of assessing the sensitivity of ensemble simulations by the UCLA atmospheric general circulation model (UCLA AGCM) to SST anomalies from the observation, which are prescribed either in the World Oceans, the Atlantic Ocean only, or the subtropical North Atlantic only. The results obtained are compared with a control run that uses global, time-varying climatological SST. The ensemble simulations with global and Atlantic-only SST anomalies both produce results that resemble the observations over the North Atlantic and Western Europe. It is suggested that the anomalous behavior of the atmosphere in the selected winter over those regions, therefore, was primarily determined by conditions within the Atlantic basin. The simulated fields in the tropical North Atlantic show anomalous upward motion and lower (upper) level convergence (divergence) in the atmosphere overlying the positive SST anomalies. Consistently, the subtropical jet intensifies and its core moves equatorward, and precipitation increases over northern Africa and southern Europe. The results also suggest that the SST anomalies in the tropical North Atlantic only do not suffice to produce the atmospheric anomalies observed in the basin during the selected winter. The extratropical SST anomalies would provide a key contribution through increased transient eddy activity, which causes an extension of the subtropical jet eastward from the coast of North America.

The Sahel experienced a severe drought during the 1970s and 1980s after wet periods in the 1950s and 1960s. Although rainfall partially recovered since the 1990s, the drought had devastating impacts on society. Most studies agree that this dry period resulted primarily from remote effects of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies amplified by local land surface–atmosphere interactions. This paper reviews advances made during the last decade to better understand the impact of global SST variability on West African rainfall at interannual to decadal time scales. At interannual time scales, a warming of the equatorial Atlantic and Pacific/Indian Oceans results in rainfall reduction over the Sahel, and positive SST anomalies over the Mediterranean Sea tend to be associated with increased rainfall. At decadal time scales, warming over the tropics leads to drought over the Sahel, whereas warming over the North Atlantic promotes increased rainfall. Prediction systems have evolved from seasonal to decadal forecasting. The agreement among future projections has improved from CMIP3 to CMIP5, with a general tendency for slightly wetter conditions over the central part of the Sahel, drier conditions over the western part, and a delay in the monsoon onset. The role of the Indian Ocean, the stationarity of teleconnections, the determination of the leader ocean basin in driving decadal variability, the anthropogenic role, the reduction of the model rainfall spread, and the improvement of some model components are among the most important remaining questions that continue to be the focus of current international projects., This work was supported by Spanish projects MINECO CGL2011-13564-E and GL2012-38923-C02-01. Support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (awards ATM-1036604 and AGS-1041477) is gratefully acknowledged.

The main source of sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the Tropical Atlantic at interannual time scales is the Equatorial Mode or Atlantic El Niño. It has been shown to affect the adjacent continents and also remote regions, leading to a weakened Indian Monsoon and promoting La Niña-type anomalies over the Pacific. However, its effects in a warmer climate are unknown. This work analyses the impact of the Equatorial Mode at the end of the twenty first century by means of sensitivity experiments with an atmosphere general circulation model. The prescribed boundary conditions for the future climate are based on the outputs from models participating in the coupled model intercomparison project-phase V. Our results suggest that even if the characteristics of the Equatorial Mode at the end of the twenty first century remained equal to those of the twentieth century, there will be an eastward shift of the main rainfall positive anomalies in the Tropical Atlantic and a weakening of the negative rainfall anomalies over the Asian monsoon due to the change in climatological SSTs. We also show that extratropical surface temperature anomalies over land related to the mode will change in regions like Southwestern Europe, East Australia, Asia or North America due to the eastward shift of the sea level pressure systems and related surface winds.

Rainfall variability over the tropical Atlantic region is dominated by changes in the surface temperature of the surrounding oceans. In particular, the oceanic forcing over Northeast of South America is dominated by the Atlantic interhemispheric temperature gradient, which leads its predictability. Nevertheless, in recent decades, the SST influence on rainfall variability in some tropical Atlantic regions has been found to be non-stationary, with important changes of the Atlantic and Pacific influence on Sahelian rainfall which appear to be modulated at multidecadal timescales. In this work, we revisit the SST influence over Northeast of South America including the analysis of the stationarity of this relationship at interannual timescales. Principal Component Analysis has been applied to the interannual component of rainfall during the March-April-May season. Results show how the SST forcing on the first mode of rainfall variability, which is a dipole-like pattern generated by the changes in the seasonal migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, is different depending of the considered period. The response to the SST anomalies in the Pacific basin is opposite to the Atlantic one and affects different areas. The Atlantic Niño influences rainfall variability at the beginning of the XX century and after 1970, while the Pacific Niño plays a major role in the variability of the rainfall in the Northeast of South America from 1970 onwards. The combined effect of both basins after the 1970s amplifies the anomalous rainfall response., The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement n° 603521 (PREFACE project) and the Spanish project CGL2012-38923-C02-01.

NOAA's Climate Program Office, Climate Variability and Predictability Program Award. Grant Number: NA14OAR4310278. European Union Seventh Framework Programme. Grant Numbers: FP7/2007–2013, 60352

Although cassava is of great importance as a starch source for industrial purposes or food consumption, the evaluation of different varieties is an under-investigated topic. Thus, in order to contribute to the identification of cassava starches more suitable for use and application in the food industry, this study aimed to analyze and compare the physicochemical properties of starches from 10 different cassava varieties of household consumption, industrial use and mixed use. In order to accomplish this goal, analyses were performed into the thermal and pasting properties, granule size and amylopectin branch chain-length distribution, amylose and phosphorus contents and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the starches. In addition, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) biplot was generated as one of the most useful methods to analyze multidimensional datasets with quantitative variables. Significant differences in phosphorus and amylose contents, branch-chain length distribution of amylopectin, starch granule diameter, gelatinization and retrogradation temperatures and pasting properties were obtained. Therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding the physicochemical properties of starches of these cassava varieties, contributing to improving their uses in the food industry by novel applications these starches, and adding and corroborating uses of some varieties studied.

An exercise has been carried out to assess to what extent the Euro-Atlantic Weather Regimes (WR), described from the ERA-interim Reanalysis in the summer season, projects onto a pool of AGCMAMIP simulations in which sea surface temperatures (SST) are prescribed from observations. Although the model simulations present some biases in the spatial structure and seasonality of WRs, exhibiting also less variability, they are able to capture main WR over the region in summer season: +Middle East –Middle East, +NAO, -NAO. WR paradigm is used to quantify changes in the atmosphere under warmer/colder than normal conditions over the Mediterranean Sea. To address this problem, firstly, changes in the frequency and spatial pattern are evaluated versus the spread of the ensemble. A change in the spatial pattern of –NAO is found with higher (lower) pressures centred over France when conditions over the Mediterranean are warmer (colder) than normal. Changes in frequency in the ensemble mean along the season are also evaluated and compared with the signal to noise ratio over the whole season. When temperatures over Mediterranean Sea are warmer (colder) than normal significant changes of WR frequency are: i) more (less) frequency for the -Middle East in June/July ii) shift of the frequency of occurrence for the WR associated with +NAO and iii) less (more) occurrence of –NAO in September-October. Despite the limitation, the analysis suggests that extreme conditions over the Mediterranean basin could modulate WR frequencies, which could have an impact on European weather conditions. Further analysis need to be performed in order to isolate the atmosphere variability forced by the Mediterranean Sea.

The present work shows observational evidence of changes in atmospheric teleconnections of West Africa (WA) and the Euro-Mediterranean (EM) areas with remote regions. We show that the impact of the tropical Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies over the WA precipitation has changed in the late 1970s, which is relevant for seasonal predictions in this area. These changes coincide with a nonstationary link between the interannual variability of the tropical Atlantic and Pacific basins. Also, the link between the Pacific El Nino and the EM rainfall in late winter-spring has changed throughout the 20th century. Our results give evidence of nonstationarities of both types, atmospheric and oceanic, occurring during negative phase periods of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Hence, the results obtained here point out a physical coherent modulation of interannual variability by multidecadal variability. These multidecadal modes also appear to influence the variability of explosive cyclones (EC) over the EM region. Finally, to further understand the AMO and its possible influence over the interannual variability, the ability to reproduce a coherent AMO in General Circulation Models (GCMs) has been analysed. Results show that both the simulated and observed AMO patterns are consistent.

[1] Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Atlantic have been associated with precipitation anomalies in West Africa that form a dipole pattern with centers over the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea. Whilst this was clear before the 1970's, the dipole pattern almost disappeared after that date, as the anti-correlation between rainfall anomalies in the Sahel and Guinea dropped abruptly. Simultaneously, the anti-correlations between Sahel rainfall and tropical Pacific SSTs strengthened. It has been posited that these changes after the 1970's developed as rainfall over West Africa started to co-vary with SSTs in the global tropics. In this co-variability, enhanced summer rainfall over West Africa with a monopole pattern corresponds to warmer SSTs in the tropical Atlantic and Maritime Continent, and colder SSTs in the tropical Pacific and western Indian Oceans. The present paper describes the hitherto unexplored seasonal evolution of this co-variability and the physical mechanisms at work. Sensitivity experiments with two atmospheric general circulation models demonstrate that, after the 1970's, the impacts of SST anomalies in the Indo-Pacific counteract those in the Atlantic in terms of generating rainfall anomalies over the Sahel, and that this superposition of effects is primarily linear. Therefore, at interannual timescales, the change in the patterns of co-variability between West African rainfall and tropical SSTs can explain the non-stationary relationship between the anomalies in these two fields.

International audience; Rainfall over West Africa shows strong interannual variability related to changes in Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Nevertheless, this relationship seem to be non-stationary. A particular turning point is the decade of the 1970s, which witnessed a number of changes in the climatic system, including the climate shift of the late 1970s. The first aim of this study is to explore the change in the interannual variability of West African rainfall after this shift. The analysis indicates that the dipolar features of the rainfall variability over this region, related to changes in the Atlantic SST, disappear after this period. Also, the Pacific SST variability has a higher correlation with Guinean rainfall in the recent period. The results suggest that the current relationship between the Atlantic and Pacific El Niño phenomena is the principal responsible for these changes. A fundamental goal of climate research is the development of models simulating a realistic current climate. For this reason, the second aim of this work is to test the performance of Atmospheric General Circulation models in simulating rainfall variability over West Africa. The models have been run with observed SSTs for the common period 1957-1998 as part of an intercomparison exercise. The results show that the models are able to reproduce Guinean interannual variability, which is strongly related to SST variability in the Equatorial Atlantic. Nevertheless, problems in the simulation of the Sahelian interannual variability appear: not all models are able to reproduce the observed negative link between rainfall over the Sahel and El Niño-like anomalies in the Pacific, neither the positive correlation between Mediterranean SSTs and Sahelian rainfall.

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2013-08-22T18:54:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 S0006-87052011000300011.pdf: 662626 bytes, checksum: 7f6c822517d8f8bec63554934adc9bad (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-22T18:54:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 S0006-87052011000300011.pdf: 662626 bytes, checksum: 7f6c822517d8f8bec63554934adc9bad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-01 Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T19:46:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0006-87052011000300011.pdf: 662626 bytes, checksum: 7f6c822517d8f8bec63554934adc9bad (MD5) S0006-87052011000300011.pdf.txt: 40963 bytes, checksum: b31817b34ebc54f5b2c77e3ed828e34a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T15:12:12Z No. of bitstreams: 2 S0006-87052011000300011.pdf: 662626 bytes, checksum: 7f6c822517d8f8bec63554934adc9bad (MD5) S0006-87052011000300011.pdf.txt: 40963 bytes, checksum: b31817b34ebc54f5b2c77e3ed828e34a (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T15:12:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0006-87052011000300011.pdf: 662626 bytes, checksum: 7f6c822517d8f8bec63554934adc9bad (MD5) S0006-87052011000300011.pdf.txt: 40963 bytes, checksum: b31817b34ebc54f5b2c77e3ed828e34a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Em cultivos tradicionais de mandioca de mesa (Manihot esculenta Crantz), bons rendimentos quanto à produção e qualidade das raízes, são obtidos a partir de oito a dez meses após o plantio. Plantas submetidas à menor competição resultam em maior produção de raízes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a densidade populacional como instrumento para a produção precoce de raízes comerciais. O experimento foi desenvolvido no ano agrícola de 2001/2002, utilizando-se a cultivar IAC 576-70, em sete densidades populacionais variáveis de 5.000 e 20.000 plantas ha-1, com colheitas aos seis, oito, dez, doze, quatorze e dezesseis meses após o plantio. Obteve-se a produtividade máxima de 26,8 t ha-1 de raízes aos 16 meses, estimada por regressão na densidade de 20.000 plantas ha-1. No entanto, as maiores produções de raízes comerciais ocorrem nas menores densidades populacionais, para todas as épocas de colheita estudadas, devido à menor taxa de descarte de raízes que se observa nas baixas populações. Nas colheitas precoces, aos seis e oito meses, observaram-se as produções comerciais estimadas de, respectivamente, 5,9 e 11,1 t ha-1 com 5.000 plantas ha-1, e 5,0 e 7,2 t ha-1 com 20.000 plantas ha-1. Esses resultados demonstram que, baixas densidades populacionais em mandioca de mesa possibilitam colheitas precoces, aos 6, 8 e 10 meses após o plantio, com bons rendimentos comerciais de raízes. In sweet cassava production, economic yields of high quality roots are obtained only after a growing season of eight to ten months. In addition, cassava plants under little competition present higher yields per plant. The objective of this work was to study the handling of population densities in the sweet cassava crop, as a tool to obtain high yield of high quality roots in earlier harvests. Seven plant densities, from 5,000 to 20,000 plants ha-1, were tested with growing cycles of six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen months, in a field trial using the cv. IAC 576-70. Total root yields increased with time, being the highest values obtained with the highest plant densities. It was estimated, with a regression model, a maximum yield of 26.8 t ha-1, when using 20,000 plants ha-1 and a growing cycle of sixteen months. on the other hand, the highest yields of marketable roots were obtained with smaller plant densities in all harvests, which was caused by lower root discard rate at low populations. The maximum yield was 19.1 t ha-1 in the latest harvest by using 5,000 plants. In earlier harvests, after six and eight months, the marketable yields estimated were 5.9 t ha-1 and 11.1 t ha-1, when using 5,000 plants; and 5.0 t ha-1 and 7.2 t ha-1 with 20,000 plants. In this way, low population densities for the sweet cassava crop enable earlier harvests, at six, eight and ten months after planting with good yields of commercial roots. Universidade Estadual Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista

This study was carried out in order to assess the genetic diversity of 20 cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) genotypes with high phenotypic performance using microsatellite markers. Two groups were considered for this study: eleven varieties for industrial uses and nine for household consumption. By using nine microsatellite primers, high polymorphism was identified in all the loci analyzed, with values reaching 100%. On average, 3.4 alleles per locus were found, with 0.371 the value estimated for the observed heterozygosity and 0.555 for gene diversity for the entire set of varieties. The genetic variability found in both varieties, cultivated on a large-scale in the South Center region of Brazil, is wide enough to allow the choice of divergent parental genotypes to be used in crosses to obtain new recombinant genotypes. Furthermore, the analyses indicated a high genetic variability within the two groups (I: varieties for industrial uses; II: varieties for household consumption). However, varieties for household consumption attain higher genetic variability, probably due to high priority placed on selection of different sensorial traits. In the cluster analysis, a tendency for separation of varieties for industrial use and household consumption was verified. Our results represent an important source of information to the cassava breeding program in Brazil. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a diversidade genética de 20 genótipos de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) com alto desempenho fenotípico, utilizando marcadores microssatélites. Foram considerados dois grupos: onze variedades para fins industriais e nove variedades de mesa. A partir de nove iniciadores foi identificado alto polimorfismo para todos os locos analisados, atingindo valores de 100%. Em média, foram encontrados 3,4 alelos por loco, sendo 0,371 o valor estimado para a heterozigosidade observada e 0,555 para a diversidade gênica, no conjunto total de variedades comerciais avaliadas. A variabilidade genética observada em ambos os grupos de variedades, cultivadas em larga escala na Região Centro-Sul do Brasil, é ampla o suficiente para permitir a escolha de genótipos parentais divergentes para serem utilizados em cruzamentos para obter novos genótipos recombinantes. Além disso, as análises revelaram alta variabilidade genética dentro dos dois grupos (I: variedades industriais; II variedades de mesa). Contudo, nas variedades de mesa houve maior diversidade genética, provavelmente devido à alta prioridade dada às características sensoriais. Pela análise de agrupamento, verificamos uma tendência para a separação das variedades industriais das de mesa. Os resultados representam importante fonte de informação para programas de melhoramento de mandioca no Brasil.

Observational evidence shows that, during 1979–2001, the summer Atlantic Niño is related to an increase in the precipitation over the Central Mediterranean and a decrease in the west and east of the basin, a relation absent in previous decades. Using a set of integrations with a global climate model, this work investigates the dynamics underlying such change before and after the 1970s. We find that the post-1970's response depends on the interactions between the influences from different tropical regions, and that one needs to consider the different impacts of the tropical oceans for the correct prediction of summer Mediterranean climate

International audience; We review the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) model inter-comparison activities for West Africa. The Model Inter-comparison Project is an evaluation exercise of how global and regional atmospheric models represent seasonal and intra-seasonal variations of the climate and rainfall over the Sahel. The Land surface Model Inter-comparison Project in turn focuses on modelling critical land surface processes over West Africa and on their link with the atmosphere. The CHEmistry Model Inter-comparison Project (CHEMIP) is a comparison of the tropospheric composition as simulated by a number of Chemical Transport Models (CTM) and Chemistry-Climate Models. We highlight the main model limitations and provide recommendations for future development.

No Estado de São Paulo, além das culturas comerciais que destinam sua produção às indústrias de transformação ou aos mercados hortifrutigranjeiros, a mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é muito difundida em culturas denominadas de "fundo de quintal". Nesse caso, muitas variedades são cultivadas e utilizadas precipuamente para consumo doméstico, tendo o presente trabalho por objetivo avaliar a amplitude de variação do seu teor de ácido cianídrico (HCN). Foram analisadas raízes de 206 variedades originárias de uma coleta sistemática realizada em 126 municípios paulistas, utilizando-se o método de Liebig, com maceração por 24 horas. Os resultados mostraram que a amplitude máxima de variação do ácido cianídrico foi de 16 a 482 mg.kg-1 na polpa crua das raízes. A maioria das variedades (67,0%) apresentou até 100 mg.kg-1 de HCN, que, apesar de alto em relação aos citados na literatura, sugere que possa ser considerado o limite superior de segurança para variedades de mesa.Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is widely cultivated in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, mostly as raw material for industrial purposes (production of cassava flour, starch, etc.). A small proportion of cassava production is destinated to "in natura" consumption, obtained essentially from backyard plantations. In this case, many varieties are used, with unknown cyanide contents, which can cause severe human intoxication. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the cyanide content range of these varieties. Roots of 206 varieties, collected at 126 sites in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed as to their cyanide contents, using the Liebig method, with maceration for a 24-hour period. Results showed a cyanide content variation from 16 to 482 mg.kg-1 of HCN in the tuber root fresh pulps. On the other hand, most of the varieties (67%) under testing presented root cyanide contents below 100 mg.kg-1. So, this cyanide content may be considered as the uppermost level to be used with security on the selection of new genetic materials with lower HCN contents.

International audience; This paper is focused on the West African anomalous precipitation response to an Atlantic Equatorial mode whose origin, development and damping resembles the observed one during the last decades of the XXth century. In the framework of the AMMA-EU project, this paper analyses the atmospheric response to the Equatorial mode using a multimodel approach with an ensemble of integrations from 4 AGCMs under a time varying Equatorial SST mode. The Guinean Gulf precipitation, which together with the Sahelian mode accounts for most of the summer West African rainfall variability, is highly coupled to this Equatorial Atlantic SST mode or Atlantic Niño. In a previous study, done with the same models under 1958-1997 observed prescribed SSTs, most of the models identify the Equatorial Atlantic SST mode as the one most related to the Guinean Gulf precipitation. The models response to the positive phase of equatorial Atlantic mode (warm SSTs) depicts a direct impact in the equatorial Atlantic, leading to a decrease of the local surface temperature gradient, weakening the West African Monsoon flow and the surface convergence over the Sahel.

International audience; We review the studies carried out during the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA)-EU on the changes of interannual sea surface temperature (SST)-West African monsoon (WAM) covariability at multidecadal timescales, together with the influence of global warming (GW). The results obtained in the AMMA-EU suggest the importance of the background state, modulated by natural and anthropogenic variability, in the appearance of different interannual modes. The lack of reliability of current coupled models in giving a realistic assessment for WAM in the future is also stated.

[1] This work presents observational evidence of a change in Atlantic-Pacific Ninos connection since the late 60's. Accordingly, summer Atlantic Ninos (Ninas) alter the tropical circulation favoring the development of following-winter Pacific Ninas (Ninos). The same change is obtained in an ensemble of AGCM integrations in which SSTs in the Atlantic are the observed in 1949-2002 and those in the tropical Indo-Pacific are from a coupled OGCM. The mechanism (for the positive Atlantic phase) involves the strengthening of the Walker circulation with ascending branch over the Atlantic and descending branch over the central Pacific. The enhanced surface divergence in the latter region shallows the equatorial thermocline triggering coupled processes, and favoring the development of a Pacific La Nina. Results could be linked to the reported 60's and 70's climate shifts; emphasizing the importance of tropical Atlantic for the success of seasonal forecast skill.

International audience; Using both empirical and numerical ensemble approaches this study focuses on the Mediterranean / West African relationship in northern summer. Statistical analyses utilize skin temperature, sea surface temperature, in situ and satellite rainfall, Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) observations and reanalyzed data winds and specific humidity on isobaric surfaces. Numerical investigations are based on a large set of sensitivity experiments performed on four Atmospheric General Circulation Models (AGCM): ARPEGE-Climat3, ECHAM4, LMDZ4 and UCLA7.3. Model outputs are compared to observations, discussed model by model and with an ensemble (multi-model) approach. As in previous studies the anomalous Mediterranean warm events are associated with specific impacts over the African monsoon region, i.e., a more intense monsoon, enhanced flux convergence and ascendances around the ITCZ, a strengthening of low level moisture advection and a more northward location of ascending motion in West Africa. The results show also new features (i) thermal variability observed in the two Mediterranean basins has unalike impacts, i.e. the western Mediterranean covaries with convection in Gulf of Guinea, while the eastern Mediterranean can be interpreted as Sahelian thermal-forcing; (ii) although observations show symmetry between warming and cooling, modelling evidences only support the eastern warming influence; (iii) anomalous East warm situations are associated with a more northward migration of the monsoon system accompanied by enhanced southwesterly flow and weakened northeasterly climatological wind; (iv) the multi-model response shows that anomalous East warm surface temperatures generate an enhancement of the overturning circulation in low and high levels, an increase in TEJ (Tropical Easterly Jet) and a decrease in AEJ (African Easterly Jet).

Foram avaliados sistemas orgânicos de produção de mandioca "de mesa", em Seropédica (RJ). O experimento constou dos seguintes tratamentos: monocultivo de mandioca (cv. IAC 576-70) e consórcios com milho experimental (cv. Eldorado), caupi (cv. Mauá) e milho+caupi. O manejo orgânico foi padronizado e toda a área experimental irrigada durante o período de permanência do milho no sistema. Do milho, foram colhidas espigas verdes (imaturas) e a parte aérea acamada na superfície do solo. O caupi foi incluído como adubo verde e cortado na floração, sendo mantidos os resíduos na superfície do solo. Ambos os consortes ocuparam as entrelinhas da mandioca, de modo alternado, semeados após a primeira capina da cultura principal. A cultivar IAC 576-70 mostrou-se adaptada ao manejo orgânico, com produtividade de raízes de padrão comercial próxima a 31 Mg ha-1. Não houve diferenças significativas entre o monocultivo e os três tipos de consórcios testados. A inclusão do milho representou potencial de renda adicional ao produtor, colhendo-se, em média, 18.125 espigas ha-1, o que correspondeu a 5,1 Mg ha-1. Os resíduos provenientes da roçada do caupi proporcionaram um aporte de biomassa fresca de 12 Mg ha-1, com uma expressiva contribuição em nitrogênio (cerca de 44 kg de N ha-1). A fabácea (leguminosa) cobriu por completo as entrelinhas da mandioca, demonstrando seu potencial de controle à erosão e a ervas espontâneas. O consórcio triplo mostrou-se vantajoso tendo em vista que a receita obtida com a venda do milho verde justificaria os custos da irrigação, além dos benefícios da inclusão do caupi e da não interferência dos consortes na produtividade da mandioca. Organic systems were evaluated for cassava root production directed to human comsumption in natura, at Seropédica-RJ. Treatments consisted of: cassava ('IAC 576-70') in single cropping and its intercropping with corn ('Eldorado'), cowpea ('Mauá') or corn plus cowpea. The organic management was standardized and the experimental area was submitted to artificial irrigation during the period of stay of maize in the system. "Green" (immature) corn ears were harvested at the "point" required for fresh marketing and the shoot placed on the ground. The cowpea was included to function as green manure being cut at flowering with residues left on the soil surface. Corn and cowpea were sown between cassava rows, in an alternate design, following the first weeding of the main crop (cassava). The cultivar IAC 576-70 showed suitability with respect to organic management, yielding approximatelu 31 Mg ha-1 of marketable roots. No significant differences were detected between cassava single cropping and any of the intercropping tested systems. Thus, corn crop has considerable potential for additional income to the growers. Yield of 'Eldorado' corn averaged 18.125 ears ha-1 correspponding to 5,1 Mg ha-1. Residues coming from cowpea cutting brought about an input close to 12 Mg ha-1, which meant an expressive contribution in nutrient elements, especially nitrogen (about 44 kg N ha-1). The legume crop, in addition, completely covered cassava inter-rows demonstrating its potential for controlling erosion and weeds. The triple intercropping becomes advantageous considering that corn harvesting would justify irrigation and that inclusion of cowpea meant benefitial effects to the system and did not interfere on cassava yield.

Applied Statistics and Technical Drawing may be regarded are a basic as well as technical subject in engineering, and therefore play a central role in the agro-forestry engineer professional curriculum. With the purpose of implementing a new learning method, within the framework of European Higher Education, an experimental evaluation was organised along in the academic year 2004/05 for students at the Faculty of Forestry Engineering in the Madrid Polytechnic University. The teaching methodology goal was to improve students’ oral information searching, use of technologies and analysis and synthesis capacities, while, at the same time providing them with a basic knowledge about the subject. The results by using this method in Technical Drawing are rather significant. As the table below illustrates, the number of PASSES per year increases up to 38% if compared with the data of the previous year. Consequently there is a considerable improvement (16%) in the average mark of these students. The results by Applied Statistics are following: , the number of PASSES per year increases up to 35,8% if compared with the data of the previous year and the average mark increases up to 12,5%.

As variedades de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz ssp esculenta) são classificadas pela taxonomia popular em bravas e mansas. As bravas têm sabor amargo, contêm alto teor de glicosídeos cianogênicos (superior a 100 mg de equivalente HCN/kg de polpa fresca de raiz) e são consumidas após serem processadas na forma de farinha, fécula e outros produtos. As mansas ou doces não têm sabor amargo, contêm baixo teor de glicosídeos cianogênicos, são consumidas com ou sem qualquer processamento, principalmente por meio de preparados domésticos simples. Neste trabalho, foram feitos cruzamentos para verificar o perfil cianogênico das progênies segregantes visando utilizar variedades bravas no melhoramento de mandiocas mansas. Duas variedades mansas (IAC 289-70 e IAC 576-70) e uma brava (SRT-1330 Xingu) foram polinizadas com uma variedade mansa (SRT-797 Ouro do Vale). Dos cruzamentos entre variedades mansas, 85,7% dos genótipos apresentaram teores abaixo de 100 mg eq. HCN/kg de polpa fresca de raiz. Do cruzamento entre as variedades mansa e a brava, apenas 31,3% dos genótipos mostraram teores abaixo desse valor. A média das progênies foi muito próxima à média dos parentais. Em todos os cruzamentos, a maior freqüência de genótipos esteve na classe entre 50 e 100 mg eq. HCN/kg de polpa fresca de raiz, mesmo no cruzamento entre brava e mansa. Em todos os cruzamentos apareceram segregantes transgressivos para maior e menor potencial cianogênico em relação a qualquer parental. O tipo de segregação observada indica ser a cianogênese um caráter com herança quantitativa que, embora tenha algum grau de influência ambiental, torna possível a seleção de indivíduos com maior ou menor teor cianogênico devido à alta herdabilidade oriunda de ampla variabilidade genotípica. Assim, variedades bravas podem surgir como recombinantes de variedades mansas, sendo também possível selecionar variedades com baixo teor cianogênico em cruzamentos de mandiocas mansas com mandiocas bravas. Cassava varieties are popularly separated by taste as bitter or sweet cultivars. Roots of bitter cultivars have a high HCN content (over 100 mg HCN equivalent/kg fresh roots) and are consumed only after processing, as flour, starch and other products. Sweet cultivars have low HCN content and can be consumed without any kind of processing. With the purpose of studing the possibility of using bitter varieties in the breeding of sweet cassava varieties, crosses were made between the different types of varieties to verify the cyanogenic profile of the segregating progenies. Two sweet varieties (IAC 289-70, IAC 576-70) and a bitter variety (SRT-1330 Xingu) were pollinated by a sweet variety (SRT-797 Ouro do Vale). Crosses between sweet cultivars yielded progenies with 85.7% of individuals with a HCN content below 100 mg HCN equivalent/kg fresh roots, while only 31.3% of the individuals from crosses between sweet and bitter varieties were under this value. The average HCN content of the progenies was very similar to the average of parents. In all crosses most of individuals showed values between 50 and 100 mg HCN equivalent/kg fresh roots, even those derivated from the cross between sweet and bitter varieties. All crosses yielded transgressive segregants, with HCN content superior or inferior to either parent. The observed data show that the HCN content is a quantitative characteristic and that there is genetic variability allowing selections for high or low HCN content. Bitter cultivars may arise from crosses between sweet cultivars and sweet cultivars may be selected from crosses between sweet and bitter cultivars.