On the Influence of the Andes on the General Circulation of the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract

An experiment is described in which the Andean topography in a general circulation model is replaced by an envelope topography and a new model climatology is produced. The resulting simulation is compared to the model climatology of an experiment in which the topography of the Andean region is completely removed. Apart from dramatic local effects, the Andean mountain range appears to exert little influence on the general circulation of the Southern Hemisphere. The experiments are assessed in the context of the geologically recent uplift of the Andes.