How accurate is long-term climatology data from the Amazon?

With some models forecasting significant change in the Amazon rainforest over the next century, it has been unclear whether the temperature and precipitation data upon which the projections are made is accurate.

Now, new research by Rafael Rosolem of the University of Arizona, shows that data associated with the Large-scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazon (LBA) — an international research initiative focusing on how changes in land use and climate will affect the biological, physical, and chemical functioning of Amazonia — is representative of normal climatology for the region.

In other words, during most of the LBA data collection period, the data was not taken during severe drought or extreme wet periods.

Read more...

http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0303-amazon.html