Interannual variability of hail-days in the Andes region since 1885

Using documentary sources, a series of the annual number of hail-days in a region near Mendoza, Argentina was constructed. The analysis of the tempora l series by means of singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and the maximum entro py method (MEM) found that the number of hail-days exhibits a similar inter annual variability as the global surface temperature [M. Ghil, R. Vautard, Nature 350 (1991) 324-327]. The oscillations exhibit interdecadal periods o f 22 years and interannual oscillations of about 4 and 8 years. (C) 1999 El sevier Science B.V. All lights reserved.