Summary Report of the First Meeting of the La Plata Basin (LPB)

Science and Implementation Steering Group


18-19 September 2006 Guaratinguetá, Brazil

E. Hugo Berbery (co-chair of LPB), M. Assunção Silva Dias (co-chair of LPB), and Carlos Ereño (Intl CLIVAR)

The first planning meeting of the La Plata Basin Science and Implementation Steering Group (SISG) took place in Guaratinguetá, Brazil, hosted by the Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC). The meeting had two purposes:

(a) initiate activities that will lead to the LPB monitoring activities and field experiment; and
(b) develop synergistic activities through partnerships with other programs and activities that have common interests in the region.

The role of CPTEC as a regional operational center and the availability and development of observing systems was discussed. These discussions included the ongoing effort to integrate Brazil's network of meteorological radars and the availability of flux towers, remote sensing and model products being developed at CPTEC, the hydrological network in Paraguay, and data management practices.

The following questions define the LPB science objectives:

(1) What climatological and hydrological factors determine the frequency of occurrence and spatial extent of floods and droughts?
(2) How predictable is the regional weather and climate variability and its impact on hydrological, agricultural and social systems of the basin?
(3) What are the impacts of global climate change and land use change on regional weather, climate, hydrology and agriculture? To what extent can their impacts be predicted?

The meeting started with key presentations on availability and development of observing systems. Among them, the ongoing effort to integrate Brazil's network of meteorological radars, the availability of flux towers, remote sensing and model products being developed at CPTEC, the hydrological network in Paraguay, and the discussion of data management practices.

Presentations of representatives of the Inter American Institute for Climate Change Studies (IAI) and the European Union addressed the mechanisms by which LPB may seek interactions with groups involved in research the region.

Working groups were designated to address the following issues:

1. Survey of previous data in preparation for the field experiment. The WG will work in identifying and collecting existing meteorological and hydrological information through the region as the basis for the field experiment.

2. A supersite for LPB. The WG will determine the location of an appropriate site or region where enhanced hydrological and meteorological observations will be obtained.

3. Radar integration. A network of radar systems is being integrated in South-eastern Brazil. Integration of radars from Paraguay and Argentina using the same protocols will be sought. Identification of the procedures needed for integrated datasets, internet connectivity, real time communication, and compatibility throughout systems.

4. Flux towers. The WG will select 1 to 3 flux towers that are representative of different hydroclimates of LPB, with the purpose of contributing as reference sites to CEOP.

5. Soil moisture measurements. Survey the current activities being carried out in the different basins in regards to soil moisture observations for model calibration and other agricultural purposes.


The working groups will report back to the co-chairs and a new draft of the implementation plan is expected to be available in early 2007. The meeting agenda, presentations, and first draft of the Implementation Plan are available at the La Plata Basin web site (NCAR/EOL)

The second meeting of the SISG is expected to take place in Buenos Aires in February of 2007. At that time the agenda will advance on the monitoring and field experiment plans, and planning will start on modeling activities and educational outreach.

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