Regional frequency analysis of daily rainfall extremes using L-moments approach

Daily extreme precipitation values are among environmental events with the most disastrous consequences for human society. Information on the magnitudes and frequencies of extreme precipitations is essential for sustainable water resources management, planning for weather-related emergencies, and design of hydraulic structures. In the present study, regional frequency analysis of maximum daily rainfalls was investigated for Golestan province located in the northeastern Iran. This study aimed to find appropriate regional frequency distributions for maximum daily rainfalls and predict the return values of extreme rainfall events (design rainfall depths) for the future. L-moment regionalization procedures coupled with an index rainfall method were applied to maximum rainfall records of 47 stations across the study area. Due to complex geographic and hydro-climatological characteristics of the region, an important research issue focused on breaking down the large area into homogeneous and coherent sub-regions. The study area was divided into five homogeneous regions, based on the cluster analysis of site characteristics and tests for the regional homogeneity. The goodness-of-fit results indicated that the best fitting distribution is different for individual homogeneous regions. The difference may be a result of the distinctive climatic and geographic conditions. The estimated regional quantiles and their accuracy measures produced by Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the estimation uncertainty as measured by the RMSE values and 90% error bounds is relatively low when return periods are less than 100 years. But, for higher return periods, rainfall estimates should be treated with caution. More station years, either from longer records or more stations in the regions, would be required for rainfall estimates above T=100 years. It was found from the analyses that, the index rainfall (at-site average maximum rainfall) can be estimated reasonably well as a function of mean annual precipitation in Golestan province. Index rainfalls combined with the regional growth curves, can be used to estimate design rainfalls at ungauged sites. Overall, it was found that cluster analysis together with the L-moments based regional frequency analysis technique could be applied successfully in deriving design rainfall estimates for northeastern Iran. The approach utilized in this study and the findings are of great scientific and practical merit, particularly for the purpose of planning for weather-related emergencies and design of hydraulic engineering structures.     

地区线性矩法在太湖流域暴雨频率分析中的应用

介绍了基于水文气象途径的地区线性矩法的概念,通过基于次序统计量的线性矩进行参数估计与基于水文气象一致区的地区分析法相结合,以太湖流域1d时段的年极值降雨资料为例,进行暴雨频率分析。应用水文气象一致区的判别准则,将太湖流域划分为8个水文气象一致区;综合考虑三种拟合优度检测方法,选择1~8区的最优分布线型分别为:GEV、GLO、GEV、GEV、GNO、GNO、GEV、GNO;根据地区分析法原理,估算各雨量站的暴雨频率设计值。分析表明:太湖流域各重现期下的年极值降雨空间分布形态基本一致,西南山区是太湖流域的暴雨高风险区,应该在地区防洪规划中引起重视。结果表明:地区线性矩法具有很高的学术和实用价值,建议在全国范围内推广,作为防洪规划的顶层设计和基础工作,以满足工程防洪设计、地区防洪规划、山洪预警和城市防涝防洪规划等方面的需求。     

中国极端降水事件的频数和强度特征

使用1951-2004年中国738个测站逐日降水资料,采用百分位的方法定义极端降水事件的阈值,分析了不同持续时间的极端降水事件的时空分布及变化趋势特征。结果表明,极端降水事件多发于35°N以南,特别是在长江中下游和江南地区以及高原东南部,且在这些地区极端降水事件持续时间也较长。季节分布上,主要出现在夏季,以低持续性事件为主。在中国东部地区,持续时间越长的极端降水其强度往往越强。趋势分析表明,全国持续1d极端事件的相对频数具有上升趋势而平均强度具有下降趋势,其空间上均表现为全国大部分上升、华北和西南等地下降的趋势。持续2d以上极端事件在长江中下游流域、江南地区和高原东部等地区有显著增多和增强的趋势,而在华北和西南地区有减少和减弱趋势,但全国平均的趋势不显著。     

长江中下游地区雨涝指数构建及其应用

为客观识别区域暴雨洪涝过程、定量评估区域暴雨过程强度,基于极端事件中持续时间和强度关系理论,采用近5 d最大降水强度作为降水相当强度指标,构建雨涝指数和区域雨涝过程强度的算法,利用1961-2019年长江中下游地区逐日降水资料,分析长江中下游地区的区域雨涝过程次数、强度以及雨涝趋势变化特征。结果表明:① 1961-2019年长江中下游地区区域雨涝过程次数整体呈增加趋势,21世纪以来区域雨涝过程发生次数明显增多,持续5~9 d的区域雨涝过程占全部雨涝过程的2/3以上;②区域内雨涝日数总体呈现南多北少分布,雨涝日数变化趋势表现为西北部减少、东南部增多;③年降水量和雨涝趋势的时空变化使得长江中下游地区的旱涝差异进一步增大,降水多的东南部更涝,降水少的北部和西部愈加干旱。     

中国极端降水事件的区域性和持续性研究

利用中国542个站1960-2003年逐日降水资料,分析中国极端降水事件的区域性和持续性,研究发现:滇西藏东一带极端降水的持续性较好,但该地区极端降水的区域性较差;长江以南地区夏季极端降水的区域性与持续性均较好,容易导致区域性洪涝灾害的发生;东南沿海冬季极端降水的区域性与持续性均较好,易形成成片且持续时间在3d或3d以上的极端(较强)降水事件;黄河中下游秋季极端降水的区域性与持续性均较好,该地区秋季发生洪涝的可能性较大;除新疆以外,东北、华北以及西北等大部分北方地区极端降水的持续性以及区域性均较差。     

Hydrologic behavior and flood probability for selected arid basins in Makkah area, western Saudi Arabia

In arid regions, flash floods often occur as a consequence of excessive rainfall. Occasionally causing major loss of property and life, floods are large events of relatively short duration. Makkah area in western Saudi Arabia is characterized by high rainfall intensity that leads to flash floods. This study quantifies the hydrological characteristics and flood probability of some major wadis in western Saudi Arabia, including Na’man, Fatimah, and Usfan. Flood responses in these wadis vary due to the nature and rainfall distribution within these wadis. Rainfall frequency analysis was performed using selected annual maximums of 24-h rainfall from eight stations located in the area. Two of the most applied methods of statistical distribution, Gumbel’s extreme value distribution and log Pearson type III distribution, were applied to maximum daily rainfall data over 26 to 40 years. The Gumbel’s model was found to be the best fitting model for identifying and predicting future rainfall occurrence. Rainfall estimations from different return periods were identified. Probable maximum floods of the major wadis studied were also estimated for different return periods, which were extrapolated from the probable maximum precipitation.     

Daily rainfall statistics of TRMM and CMORPH: A case for trans-boundary Gandak River basin

Satellite precipitation products offer an opportunity to evaluate extreme events (flood and drought) for areas where rainfall data are not available or rain gauge stations are sparse. In this study, daily precipitation amount and frequency of TRMM 3B42V.7 and CMORPH products have been validated against daily rain gauge precipitation for the monsoon months (June–September or JJAS) from 2005–2010 in the trans-boundary Gandak River basin. The analysis shows that the both TRMM and CMORPH can detect rain and no-rain events, but they fail to capture the intensity of rainfall.     

非平稳条件下北京市最大月降水量频率特征分析

为探究气候变化下极端降水的频率变化特征,基于北京市22个雨量站实测月降水量数据,以时间为协变量构建平稳和非平稳GEV模型,对北京市最大月降水量序列(极值降水序列)进行模拟和频率分析,并采用Bootstrap方法对频率分析结果的不确定性进行评价.结果表明:所有极值降水序列的最优概率分布模型均为非平稳GEV模型,该模型能够...     

雅鲁藏布江流域极端降水模拟及预估

为了解雅鲁藏布江流域汛期极端降水的变化规律,推算一定重现期的极端降水量分位数,通过百分位法、Hill图法、年交叉率法选取阈值,借助广义帕累托分布函数（GPD）对流域极端降水频率进行了分析。结果表明：99百分位时的阈值为流域内各站点的最佳阈值,且各站点超阈值序列通过了M-K的平稳性检验,无明显突变。拟合效果通过K-S检验,各站点拟合的极端降水理论频数和实测频数基本相符。尺度参数的大值区位于流域下游,表明该地区的极值波动大;形状参数正值区位于流域中上游地区,说明发生破纪录降水事件的概率较大,拟合结果与实际观测一致。从5年一遇和10年一遇的极端降水值来看,雅江流域除拉孜站外,其他地区降水极值均超过30 mm,日喀则地区的降水极值达50 mm;各地区20年一遇和30年一遇的降水极值增长的非常缓慢。通过与实际极端降水值对比分析得出,GPD拟合计算出的重现期水平基本符合实际,即具有一定的合理性。     

Quantifying uncertainties associated with depth duration frequency curves

Uncertainty in depth–duration–frequency (DDF) curves is usually disregarded in the view of difficulties associated in assigning a value to it. In central Iran, precipitation duration is often long and characterized with low intensity leading to a considerable uncertainty in the parameters of the probabilistic distributions describing rainfall depth. In this paper, the daily rainfall depths from 4 stations in the Zayanderood basin, Iran, were analysed, and a generalized extreme value distribution was fitted to the maximum yearly rainfall for durations of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days. DDF curves were described as a function of rainfall duration (D) and return period (T). Uncertainties of the rainfall depth in the DDF curves were estimated with the bootstrap sampling method and were described by a normal probability density function. Standard deviations were modeled as a function of rainfall duration and rainfall depth using 10⁴ bootstrap samples for all the durations and return periods considered for each rainfall station.     

Joint pattern of seasonal hydrological droughts and floods alternation in China’s Huai River Basin using the multivariate L-moments

Under the current condition of climate change, droughts and floods occur more frequently, and events in which flooding occurs after a prolonged drought or a drought occurs after an extreme flood may have a more severe impact on natural systems and human lives. This challenges the traditional approach wherein droughts and floods are considered separately, which may largely underestimate the risk of the disasters. In our study, the sudden alternation of droughts and flood events (ADFEs) between adjacent seasons is studied using the multivariate L-moments theory and the bivariate copula functions in the Huai River Basin (HRB) of China with monthly streamflow data at 32 hydrological stations from 1956 to 2012. The dry and wet conditions are characterized by the standardized streamflow index (SSI) at a 3-month time scale. The results show that: (1) The summer streamflow makes the largest contribution to the annual streamflow, followed by the autumn streamflow and spring streamflow. (2) The entire study area can be divided into five homogeneous sub-regions using the multivariate regional homogeneity test. The generalized logistic distribution (GLO) and log-normal distribution (LN3) are acceptable to be the optimal marginal distributions under most conditions, and the Frank copula is more appropriate for spring-summer and summer-autumn SSI series. Continuous flood events dominate at most sites both in spring-summer and summer-autumn (with an average frequency of 13.78% and 17.06%, respectively), while continuous drought events come second (with an average frequency of 11.27% and 13.79%, respectively). Moreover, seasonal ADFEs most probably occurred near the mainstream of HRB, and drought and flood events are more likely to occur in summer-autumn than in spring-summer.     

长江流域降水极值的变化趋势

依据1960-2005年长江流域147个气象站逐日降水,ECHAM5/MPI-OM气候模式模拟的长江流域79个格点20世纪实验期(1941-2000年)以及未来3种排放情景(SRES-B1,A1B,A2)下21世纪前50年逐日降水数据,建立年最大强降水和汛期<1.27 mm/d的最长干旱持续天数序列。运用广义极值分布,广义帕雷托分布,广义逻辑分布与韦克比分布等4种分布函数定量拟合了长江流域降水极值的概率分布。研究表明:韦克比分布函数能够较好地拟合长江流域降水极值的概率分布。在3种排放情景下,未来降水极值的重现期呈现不同的空间分布特征。长江流域,尤其是中下游大部地区,1951-2000年间的50年一遇强降水和干旱事件,在2001-2050年间发展成为25年一遇降水极值事件。未来气候变暖条件下,降水极值重现期出现的这种变化趋势,将会对水资源趋势产生重大的影响。     

基于随机暴雨移置方法的城市设计暴雨分析

城市地区暴雨洪灾发生频繁，合理计算设计暴雨是解决城市洪涝的重要前提。采用随机暴雨移置方法（Stochastic Storm Transposition，SST），设定暴雨移置区并提取出暴雨目录，通过区域性概率重采样与暴雨空间变换相结合的方式进行降雨频率分析，估计本地化的极端暴雨频率。以上海地区为例，研究发现暴雨移置区内暴雨分布具有空间异质性，暴雨随机移置概率不均，计算得到的设计暴雨方案包含了降雨时空分布信息，在不同重现期下设计暴雨的时空结构存在变异性，说明传统方法中采用的简化雨型和均一化空间分布假设会增加设计暴雨的不确定性。     

Relationship between South Asia High Low Frequency Oscillation and the Drought and Flood in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Based on the NCEP/NCAR daily reanalysis data and the daily rainfall data of ground observation at 164 weather stations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River from 1960 to 2013, the relationship between South Asia high low frequency oscillation and the drought and flood in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were analyzed using a composite analysis, wavelet analysis and band-pass filtering analysis method. The results indicated that in the typical drought and flood years, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 200 hPa atmosphere u, v low-frequency primary cycle and the summer rainfall cycle over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were the same. In more summer rainfall, from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to east China and west Pacific coast, there existed a cycle-anticyclone-cycle low frequency wave train. Low-frequency anticyclone controlled eastern China and the low-frequency cyclone controlled the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In drought years, results were opposite. In flood years, the precipitation of low frequency over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and that of 200 hPa atmospheric low frequency change of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was closely related. When the northerly wind in the northeast part of the the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was strong, and Lake Baikal southerly wind was strong, there was more precipitation. On the contrary, precipitation was less. The low frequency oscillation wave train was mainly spread from the northeast of China and Japan's southern to China’s southwest. However, in drought years, the relationship between them was not clear and needed to be further studied.     

基于随机暴雨移置方法的城市设计暴雨分析

城市地区暴雨洪灾发生频繁，合理计算设计暴雨是解决城市洪涝的重要前提。采用随机暴雨移置方法（Stochastic Storm Transposition，SST），设定暴雨移置区并提取出暴雨目录，通过区域性概率重采样与暴雨空间变换相结合的方式进行降雨频率分析，估计本地化的极端暴雨频率。以上海地区为例，研究发现暴雨移置区内暴雨分布具有空间异质性，暴雨随机移置概率不均，计算得到的设计暴雨方案包含了降雨时空分布信息，在不同重现期下设计暴雨的时空结构存在变异性，说明传统方法中采用的简化雨型和均一化空间分布假设会增加设计暴雨的不确定性。     

The evolution analysis of flood and drought in Huai River Basin of China based on monthly precipitation characteristics

Based on the daily precipitation data of 38 weather stations in the Huai River Basin from 1961 to 2010, this study used SPI index, P-III curve to determine the flood/drought years, under what situations for droughts and floods easily happen, and to analyze the evolution law of flood and drought during inter-annual and intra-annual based on the characteristic of monthly precipitation. The results showed that: (1) annual rainfall of the Huai River Basin presented decreasing trend, maximum rainfall appeared from June to August, and multi-year average precipitation increased gradually from north to south; (2) the variation of monthly precipitation during flood years was more severe than other typical years, and precipitation in drought years showed nearly 50 % decline compared with normal years; (3) high rainfall of flood years was mainly caused by the increase in rainfall in flood season, and the strategy of flood control and drought relief was “short-term flood prevention and long-term drought relief”; (4) while precipitation of most months in drought year was reduced, the relevant strategies “annual basin-wide of long-term drought prevention” should be carried out; (5) combination events of floods and droughts occurred frequently. Persistent drought dominated in spring and summer while droughts and floods that happened alternately were mainly in summer and autumn.     

Spatio-temporal variations in precipitation on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain from 1963 to 2012

Spatio-temporal variations in precipitation are affecting agricultural production in China in the context of climate change. Based on daily precipitation data from 63 national meteorological stations on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain from 1963 to 2012, this paper analysed the spatio-temporal variations in precipitation in terms of precipitation days and intensity, using spatial interpolation, linear trend estimation and wavelet analysis. The results indicated that: (i) from 1963 to 2012, the number of annual precipitation days and intensity decreased gradually from the southeast to the northwest. Additionally, the distribution of the extreme precipitation index was similar to that of the annual precipitation index; (ii) the number of annual precipitation days and heavy precipitation days gradually decreased, while precipitation intensity and extreme precipitation days and extreme rainfall intensity remained relatively stable or decreased. The spatial patterns of annual variation trends were considerably different. The annual precipitation days and intensity trends are consistent with the overall trend, while that of the extreme rainfall index in some regions differs from the overall trend; (iii) the precipitation index displayed different periodic oscillations during the period, and the precipitation index values differed at different time scales. However, all the precipitation index values exhibited a 28-yr oscillation.     

Multivariate delineation of rainfall homogeneous regions for estimating quantiles of maximum daily rainfall: A case study of northwestern Mexico

Lack of data in maximum daily rainfall frequency analysis can generate ineffcient estimates for design purposes. An approach to diminish these errors is to apply regional estimation techniques, which require that all stations be located at the same homogeneous region. In this paper, a delineation of homogeneous precipitation regions was made based on the multivariate methods of principal component analysis and hierarchical ascending clustering. A region in northwestern Mexico was selected to apply this methodology. It was concluded that only the coeffcients of variation of the L-moments, along with latitude, longitude and altitude at each climatological station are sufficient to define the homogeneous rainfall regions, and that either the inclusion or exclusion of information in the regional techniques has a direct impact on the estimation of events associated to different return periods.     

从湿季降水分异论哀牢山季风交汇

选择哀牢山和无量山中南部区域,利用该区1961-2007年月降水资料,分析湿季及各月降水时空分异与区域地形及季风交汇的关联.结论如下:区域湿季降水与岭谷地形的空间分异有着很好的吻合.哀牢山东侧主脉两侧降水量分异明显,但两侧各站湿季及各月降水的年际变化趋势等多项特征具有一致性.该区东南部和西北部的湿季降水存在明显分异,中...     

Application of bivariate extreme value distribution to flood frequency analysis: a case study of Northwestern Mexico

In Mexico, poverty has forced people to live almost on the water of rivers. This situation along with the occurrence of floods is a serious problem for the local governments. In order to protect their lives and goods, it is very important to account with a mathematical tool that may reduce the uncertainties in computing the design events for different return periods. In this paper, the Logistic model for bivariate extreme value distribution with Weibull-2 and Mixed Weibull marginals is proposed for the case of flood frequency analysis. A procedure to estimate their parameters based on the maximum likelihood method is developed. A region in Northwestern Mexico with 16 gauging stations has been selected to apply the model and regional at-site quantiles were estimated. A significant improvement occurs, measured through the use of a goodness-of-fit test, when parameters are estimated using the bivariate distribution instead of its univariate counterpart. Results suggest that it is very important to consider the Mixed Weibull distribution and its bivariate option when analyzing floods generated by a␣mixture of two populations.