The monitoring period covers the main growing season in the MPZ: the harvest of winter crops and the sowing and early growth stages of summer crops.

Although the region recorded close to average rainfall (+2% above average), large spatial and temporal variations were observed. Large precipitation excess affected Central and north-eastern Argentina, Uruguay and the South of Brazil (Figures 2.3.a and 2.3.b).

TEMP was about normal (a slight drop of 0.5℃ below average). The southern areas of the region including Argentina and southernmost Brazil experienced fluctuations from positive to negative while the North showed more stable patterns with some negative anomalies values in the Northwest and positive anomalies elsewhere(Figure 2.3.c and 2.3.d).

Sunshine was close to average (RADPAR anomaly +1%). 

BIOMSS showed on average a slight increment of 2 % compared with the recent average. The largest positive anomalies occurred in Central Argentina and negative ones affected mainly Mato Grosso Do Sul, Parana and Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Almost all cropland was cultivated according to the Cropped Arable Land Fraction value of 100%, showing a 3 % increment compared to 5 years average. VCIx shows an average value of 0.75 for the whole MPZ but values higher than 0.8 are widespread. VHIn map shows in general good conditions too (values higher than 35 %). In particular, very low values of VHIn were only observed for Central western Pampas, and scattered pixels in the Argentinian Chaco, Brazil and Paraguay. 

Overall crop condition was average in the South-American MPZ.

Figure2.3. South America MPZ: Agro‐climatic and agronomic indicators, October 2018– January 2019.

图.X Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

图.X Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

图.X Potential biomass departure from 5YA

图.X Cropped and uncropped arable land

图.X Maximum VCI

图.X VHI Minimum