Observaciones meteorológicas especiales durante ENOS 1997/1998 en la parte norte de Sudamérica y posibilidades para mejorar la red

Since May of 1997, special meteorological observations have been made from the southern part of Mexico to Peru, as part of a research that studies the causes of rainfall variability in central America. Once the 12 pilot balloon-network was established, we confirmed the fact that the chosen study period will be anomalous due to the presence of the strong El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) already present by June 1997. Despite that ENSO has affected the original objectives of this study; the special atmospheric observations along the north-western coast of South America present a unique opportunity to help in the description of the regional changes in wind circulation on the coast of Ecuador and Peru during a strong ENSO event. There is the possibility to increase the density of the meteorological network during the rainy season from December 1997 to May 1998. In this paper we present the preliminary results obtained, describing the details associated with this possible increase in the current monitoring program, and the need to obtain further collaboration to El Niño studies and its impact on the region.