This article aims to analyze the spatial and temporal rainfall trends in Pernambuco State based on extreme climatic indices and quantile technique. The daily rainfall data are from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) for the period 1978 to 2010. To analyze the trend in precipitation climatic indices, suggested by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection Monitoring and Indices (ETCCDMI), were chosen. Using the kriging method it was possible to analyze the spatial variability of the indexes. The results show a predominant tendency of increasing rainfall patterns in much of the State, except for the middle region of the eastern metropolitan region and the middle region of the Zona da Mata. The overall indice results indicate that rain is becoming more concentrated in a few days throughout the year in the Sertão and Agreste regions in Pernambuco. In the Sertão of Pernambuco, the largest number of extremely dry episodes have occurred and also the occurrence of greater number of extremely rainy events, concentrated on December, January and February months, the rainy season in the Sertão region of Pernambuco.
climatic index; quantiles; drought; extreme events
