| Work Detail |
In a new weekly update for pv magazine , Solcast, a DNV company, reports that southern Brazil and the northern Andes were hotspots for irradiation during March, recording anomalies up to 30% above the climatological average. The increase occurred despite heavy rains that caused flooding elsewhere in South America. March in South America offered much higher-than-average irradiance for solar power producers in the southeastern Brazilian states with the highest solar density. Most of Brazil, along with northern South America, benefited from increased irradiance despite persistent convective rain systems that dumped above-average precipitation in the Amazon. Meanwhile, the Argentine Andes and the Chilean Atacama Desert experienced decreased irradiance, according to analysis conducted with the Solcast API, due to high pressure over the southern Atlantic pulling humid air from the east of the continent. Southern Brazil and the northern Andes stood out as irradiance hotspots during March, recording anomalies up to 30% above the climatological average. This increase occurred despite above-average, intense rainfall that caused flooding in Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. In this case, a pronounced high-pressure ridge settled over eastern Brazil, suppressing prolonged cloudiness despite recurring convective activity. This situation favored sporadic but intense rainfall, interspersed with long periods of sunshine. Although it is unusual to see positive irradiance and precipitation anomalies at the same time, the following graph shows an example of a week with sunny mornings and cloudy afternoons, which led to rain later in the day or during the evening. Further north, the Caribbean states also benefited from the same influence, with stable air masses limiting cloud development and pushing solar irradiance above the March average. These areas saw mild temperatures and a similar increase in precipitation, although the absence of persistent clouds boosted solar generation. In stark contrast, solar conditions were unfavorable in the Andes and adjacent lowlands. High sea surface temperatures in the South Atlantic increased the westward transport of moisture across the continent, driving clouds toward the mountains. This air mass encountered a mid-to-upper-level trough over the Andes, which destabilized the atmosphere and promoted deep and persistent convective cloudiness throughout the month. The resulting impact on irradiance was significant. From northern Argentina to central Peru, passing through Paraguay and Bolivia, dense cloud conditions prevailed. Irradiance decreased in this area, with anomalies up to 30% below climatological averages. This persistent lack of solar exposure represents a key deviation from seasonal expectations for these high-solar output regions. |
