A comparison of the flood precipitation episode in August 2002 with historic extreme precipitation events on the Czech territory

The hydro-meteorological characteristics of the flood from August 2002, which affected a great part of the Czech territory, particularly the Vltava and Labe river basin, were compared with corresponding conditions during similar flood events in the summer seasons of 1997, 1890, 1897 and 1903. The comparison shows analogies in synoptic conditions and causal precipitation heights. The heaviest precipitation fell in the area of a considerable horizontal pressure gradient on the rearward side of the cyclone which advanced very slowly to the north-east across Central Europe and created conditions for the transport of moist air as well as for an organized long-term updraft enhanced in orographically exposed regions. The varying features of the individual events were based on the spatial–temporal distribution of causal precipitation and also on the very different saturation of the catchments. It was chiefly the extraordinary time concentration of precipitation together with the highest catchment saturation that made the flood in 2002 the most extreme.The extremeness of meteorological fields during two episodes in July 1997 was compared with two episodes in August 2002 with the aid of the reanalysis data from ECMWF. The first episode in 1997 and the second episode in 2002 were the most similar and more extreme in terms of the large-scale fields of basic meteorological quantities. The similar features of these episodes are specifically an intensive influx of moisture into Central Europe and intensive upward motions in the precipitation area. The extremeness of upper- and low-level potential vorticity fields was evaluated to diagnose the behavior of the cyclone and frontal precipitation bands accompanying it. The suitable spatial configuration of positive upper- and low-level potential vorticity anomalies induced an additional amplification of upward motions in the precipitation area that apparently contributed to triggering the heavy precipitation over Central Europe. On the whole, quantities reached more extreme values during the second episode in 2002.     

Design storm studies for the Upper Krishna river catchment upstream of the Almatti dam site

Summary The Almatti dam is the major engineering feature in the development of water resources in the Upper Krishna river forming a storage reservoir of 6425 million m³ at spillway crest level. In this paper, the design storm rainfalls for different return periods and also the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) for the catchment above Almatti dam have been estimated to review the adequacy of the flood spillway design for the dam. The design storm rainfalls of various return periods have been computed from a statistical analysis of point and areal time series of annual maximum rainfall. In evaluating the PMP, the maximum observed rainfall obtained by Depth Duration method were maximized as the orography of the Western Ghats plays profound influence over the catchment. It was found that (area 35925 km²) the highest areal rainfalls over the catchment were 14.0 cm, 21.5 cm and 24.6 cm in 1, 2 and 3-day durations, respectively. These are scaled up by a factor of 1.23 to obtain the PMP rainfalls. The areal PMP estimates for the upper Krishna River (UKR) catchment above Almatti dam have been found to be 18.0 cm, 27.0 cm and 31.0 cm, respectively.With 6 Figures     

Estimation of probable maximum precipitation for catchments in eastern India by a generalized method

Summary A generalized method to estimate the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) has been developed for catchments in eastern India (80° E, 18° N) by pooling together all the major rainstorms that have occurred in this area. The areal raindepths of these storms are normalized for factors such as storm dew point temperature, distance of the storm from the coast, topographic effects and any intervening mountain barriers between the storm area and the moisture source. The normalized values are then applied, with appropriate adjustment factors in estimating PMP raindepths, to the Subarnarekha river catchment (upto the Chandil dam site) with an area of 5663 km². The PMP rainfall for 1, 2 and 3 days were found to be roughly 53 cm, 78 cm and 98 cm, respectively. It is expected that the application of the generalized method proposed here will give more reliable estimates of PMP for different duration rainfall events.With 5 Figures     

天气雷达定量降水估测不同校准方法的比较与应用

利用天气雷达联合地面雨量计定量降水估测的局地平均校准法和局地分级平均校准法,分布估计2012年7月21日20:00至22日01:00 BT重庆市荣昌县及附近的降水。结果表明,局地分级平均校准法较局地平均校准法对强降水的估测效果好,同时两种方法的降水估测效果均与所取的局地校准半径大小有关。对降水分布及洪水灾情的分析表明,降水分布与河网的结合是进行中小河流洪水气象风险预报的重要着眼点。     

流域面雨量估算技术综述

面雨量是水文气象中一个重要参量。面雨量的估算直接关系到洪水预报精度和洪水调度决策的科学性。由于降水空间分布的复杂性,如何准确估算流域面雨量一直是个科学难题。传统方法根据常规降水观测,应用空间分析技术来估算面雨量。随着非常规观测技术的发展,以雷达、卫星估测降水资料为主并结合自动气象站降水观测资料,通过资料融合来进行估算已成为流域面雨量估算技术的发展趋势。而以GIS为平台,实现数据分析和显示一体化管理则代表了面雨量业务系统的发展方向。通过水文模拟与水文观测的比较,可以对面雨量估算结果进行间接检验。     

Estimation of Probable Maximum Precipitation for Dams in the Hongru River Catchment, China

Summary During the summer season, typhoons form in the western north Pacific Ocean and travel westward towards China. Some recurve northward off the coast, whereas others continue in over land. These typhoons bring heavy rainfall to the Huai river basin in eastern central China. In August 1975, the remnant of typhoon Nina caused exceptionally heavy rainfall in the Hongru river basin, in the mountainous upper reaches of the Huai river. The rainfall lasted five days from 4 to 8 August. This type of nearly stationary typhoon can cause rainfall of large intensity for a long duration, and is suitable for maximization to derive probable maximum precipitation (PMP) estimates. The PMP is transformed into a probable maximum flood hydrograph that is subsequently used to design spillways etc. In this study the PMP values have been estimated using a hydrometeorological method involving depth-area-duration analysis, moisture maximization, and altitude adjustment for typhoon Nina, for 1, 2, and 3 days duration. Areal PMP values were obtained for the entire Hongru river catchment, as well as for the subcatchments upstream the dams at Banqiao (762 km²), Shimantan (230 km²), Boshan (580 km²), and Suyahu (4 498 km²). For point values, the PMP was estimated to 1 200 mm/day, 1 460 mm/2 days, and 1 910 mm/3 days at altitudes about 100 m, which agrees well with previous studies. Received February 21, 1997 Revised May 27, 1997     

包头山区流域面雨量的实现及最大洪峰流量的估计

利用T213数值预报产品建立包头市短期降雨预报方程,通过地理信息系统,在Citystar4.0版本软件的支持下,实现大青山区降水随高度的分布模式,计算出主要山区沟河的流域面雨量和降水总量,估计洪峰流量。在GIS(地理信息系统)环境下,研究山区面雨量的预报,通过建立包头市大青山区山体高度降雨量分布的经验公式,得到实现山区沟河流域面的面雨量,最终得到各个沟河流域的最大洪峰流量的估计。     

江西省小流域山洪灾害临界雨量计算分析

临界雨量是预报山洪灾害的重要指标。针对江西省山洪灾害特征,以小流域为基本单元研究了小时雨量与山洪灾害发生时间及小流域参数之间的关系,结果表明：山洪与小时雨量有很紧密的联系,流域面积、主沟长度和主沟比降等影响山洪的小流域参数与小时雨量之间存在着很大的相关性。结合1950--2002年全省小流域山洪灾害与气候统计数据,计算出资料完整的小流域1、3、6和24h的临界雨量,进而建立了流域面积、主沟长度和主沟比降等流域参数与对应小流域山洪临界雨量之间的统计模型,推算出全省1045个小流域的山洪灾害临界雨量,并对2009年7月23日赣州地区一次山洪过程进行模拟,能够准确预报出山洪风险等级,效果良好。     

利用卫星和雷达估计大暴雨

利用合肥、武汉和长沙雷达、云顶亮温TBB等观测资料,对2003年7月8日发生的大暴雨天气过程进行了联合估计。结果表明:联合估算降水很好地再现了这次降水过程;卫星估算降水很大程度上弥补了雷达估算降水在空间分布上的不足,但对特大暴雨在强度上估计不足,对中等强度的降水估计偏大;引入雷达对卫星估算降水进行联合估算,能很好地反映暴雨云团的中尺度结构特征,反演的降水场能很好揭示强降水过程的时空变化特征。     

汉江丹江口流域水文气象预报系统

汉江丹江口流域水文气象预报系统在GIS技术的支持下,以水文气象监测网、定量降水估算、定量降水预报、洪水预报技术为基础,通过雷达估算降水技术、中尺度数值模式预报技术获取高时空分辨率的降水信息输入水文模型来进行水文气象预报。以Web形式为基础的汉江丹江口流域水文气象预报系统平台在2010年7月以及2011年9月汉江丹江口两次洪水过程中及时、准确地显示了流域实况降水、预报降水,准确地预报了洪水入库过程。目前系统已成功移植到三峡区间、清江水布垭、淮河王家坝、漳河水库等流域开展汛期试验与服务,取得了较好的应用效果。     

Using the fractions skill score to assess the relationship between an ensemble QPF spread and skill

The numerical weather prediction model LM COSMO was employed to study the regional ensemble forecast of convective precipitation. The relationship between ensemble spread and ensemble skill and the possibility of estimating ensemble skill on the basis of ensemble spread were investigated. Five convective events that produced heavy local rainfall in the Czech Republic were studied. The LM COSMO was run with a horizontal resolution of 2.8 km and an ensemble of 13 forecasts was created by modifying the initial and boundary conditions. Forecasts were verified by gauge-adjusted radar-based rainfalls. Ensemble skill and ensemble spread were determined using the Fractions Skill Score (FSS), which depended on the scale of the elementary area and on a precipitation threshold. The spread represents the differences between the control forecast and the forecasts provided by each ensemble member, while the skill evaluates the difference between the precipitation forecast and radar-based rainfalls. In this study, the ensemble skill is estimated on the basis of the ensemble spread. The numerical experiments used the FSS-based skill and spread values related to four events to estimate the skill–spread relationship. The relationship was applied to a fifth event to estimate the QPF ensemble skill given the ensemble FSS-based spread. The evaluation was performed separately for 1, 3, and 6 h rainfalls using various threshold values and scales. The absolute frequencies of the differences between diagnostic and prognostic FSS-based skill show that all of the distributions have means and medians close to zero and that the interquartile ranges are between 0.10 and 0.30. The results indicate that 67% of all the fitted FSS-skill values were within 0.15 of the true values. One of five events showed a marked overestimation of the prognostic FSS-skill so that only 39% of skill values were fitted. At the other four events, the 75% of predicted FSS-skill values were in the range of 0.15 of the diagnosed FSS-skill. The results appear to be encouraging; however, tests with more extended data are needed to confirm the potential of the technique.     

Global exposure to river and coastal flooding: Long term trends and changes

Flood damage modelling has traditionally been limited to the local, regional or national scale. Recent flood events, population growth and climate change concerns have increased the need for global methods with both spatial and temporal dynamics. This paper presents a first estimation of global economic exposure to both river and coastal flooding for the period 1970–2050, using two different methods for damage assessment. One method is based on population and the second is based on land-use within areas subject to 1/100 year flood events. On the basis of population density and GDP per capita, we estimate a total global exposure to river and coastal flooding of 46 trillion USD in 2010. By 2050, these numbers are projected to increase to 158 trillion USD. Using a land-use based assessment, we estimated a total flood exposure of 27 trillion USD in 2010. For 2050 we simulate a total exposure of 80 trillion USD. The largest absolute exposure changes between 1970 and 2050 are simulated in North America and Asia. In relative terms we project the largest increases in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The models also show systematically larger growth in the population living within hazard zones compared to total population growth. While the methods unveil similar overall trends in flood exposure, there are significant differences in the estimates and geographical distribution. These differences result from inherent model characteristics and the varying relationship between population density and the total urban area in the regions of analysis. We propose further research on the modelling of inundation characteristics and flood protection standards, which can complement the methodologies presented in this paper to enable the development of a global flood risk framework.     

Areal distribution and precipitation–altitude relationship of heavy short-term precipitation in the Czech Republic in the warm part of the year

The article presents an analysis of heavy short-term precipitation for the warm part of the year in the Czech Republic (CR). Precipitation data are prepared for the years 2002–2007 with a horizontal resolution of 1 km and a temporal resolution of 1 h. A method merging radar and daily rain gauge measurements is applied to calculate basic hourly precipitation. Two types of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-h precipitation data, derived from the basic hourly precipitation, are investigated from the viewpoint of precipitation–altitude relationships and areal distributions of heavy precipitation. The first type of data consists of sums of hourly precipitation, where the summation is performed for all data regardless of whether the summed hourly precipitation is a part of a longer precipitation event or if some hours are without precipitation. The second type of data contains temporally bounded precipitation events. This type predominantly includes convective precipitation. The results show that for both types of data, 1-h precipitation with high rain rates is without apparent dependence on altitude. For the first type of data and for precipitation durations of 2 and 3 h, the impact of altitude on precipitation maps can be identified for low and high rain rates. The impact of mountains is evident for the 6-h precipitation because it includes large scale precipitation events. However, the second type of data does not depend on altitude for heavy precipitation. Heavy precipitation of the second type shows, especially for 6-h, an increased frequency of occurrence in the south to central CR.     

东津河流域暴雨洪涝灾害风险区划

本文从暴雨致灾机理出发,以东津河流域为例,开展中小河流域暴雨洪涝灾害风险区划技术研究。根据气象资料、水文资料、地理信息资料、社会经济统计资料以及历史灾情资料等,运用TOPMODEL水文模型并结合统计法确定致洪临界面雨量,利用逐步回归法重建区域站资料序列,基于广义极值分布函数计算出不同重现期的致洪面雨量,根据流域内小时降水雨型分布,将不同重现期致洪面雨量以及叠加堤坝信息的DEM、manning系数等数据代人Flood Area模型进行洪水淹没模拟,得到不同重现期下洪水淹没图,再叠加流域内栅格化的人口、GDP以及土地利用信息,最终得到不同重现期下人口、GDP以及土地利用等风险区划图谱。建立的中小河流域暴雨洪涝灾害风险区划技术方法简便可行,区划结果精度高、实用性强,对于面向实时防灾减灾的动态灾害风险管理具有重要意义。     

Global Freshwater Storage Capability across Time Scales in the GRACE Satellite Era

Freshwater is recharged mainly by rainfall and stored inland for a period of time, which is directly affected by its storage capability. The storage capability of river basins has different spatiotemporal features that are important for the predictability of freshwater resources. However, the estimation of freshwater storage capability(FSC) remains a challenge due to the lack of observations and quantification indices. Here, we use a metric that characterizes hydrological "inertia"after rainfalls to analyze FSC over the 194 largest global major river basins based on satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment(GRACE) and simulations from the Community Land Model version 5(CLM5). During2003–16, the global land was observed to retain 28% of precipitation after one month based on GRACE observations, and the simulation depicts that the retained proportions decrease from 42% after one day to 26% after one month, with smaller FSC partly attributed to wetter conditions and higher vegetation densities. The root zone contributes about 40% to the global land FSC on daily to monthly time scales. As the time scale increases, the contribution from the surface soil decreases from 26% to 14%, while the contribution from the deep soil increases from 4% to 10%. Snow contributes over20% of land FSC, especially over high latitudes. With six decades of CLM5 long-term simulations, it is revealed that the change of FSC in most basins is related to internal climate variability. The FSC of river basins which displays the proportion of precipitation retained on land is worthy of further attention regarding the predictability of water resources.     

A hydrometeorological analysis of the severe rainstorm of 20–22 September 1900 over the Gangetic West Bengal

A hydrometeorological study is made of the September, 1900 severe rainstorm which led up to the record rain-falls over Gangetic West Bengal with subsequent disastrous flooding in the Damodar and the Hooghly rivers. The spatial extent of the rainstorm for different durations has been examined by constructing the isohyetal patterns based on rainfall records of stations affected by the storm. Areal rainfalls for 1,2 and 3-day periods are calculated and the values have been compared with similar values from other major rainstorms of the region. The comparison revealed that the September, 1900 rainstorm was the heaviest for 1,2 and 3-day durations for all the areas. The storm contrib-uted rainfalls of 33.0 cm, 52.0 cm and 62.0 cm over an area of 10,000 km2 in 1,2 and 3 days respectively. This rainstorm could, therefore, be considered as an important input in flood and design storm studies in the Gangetic West Bengal region. A relationship between point to areal rainfall has also been developed with a view to evaluate areal PMP estimates.     

雷达定量测量降水在佛子岭流域径流模拟中的应用

以位于合肥雷达西南100 km的佛子岭闭合流域 (1813 km2) 及该流域的6个子流域为研究区域, 用地面雨量计和雷达-雨量计联合校准两种方法进行流域面雨量计算, 将两种方法计算的面雨量分别作为TOPMODEL (TOPography based hydrological MODEL) 降水-径流模型的输入, 对模型输出结果进行比较。个例分析表明:雷达-雨量计联合测量降水的精度是否高于单独用地面雨量计计算的精度, 在一定程度上取决于用于校准的地面雨量计数目和代表性; 即使雨量计计算的整个流域面雨量与雷达-雨量计联合校准后的结果接近, 对应子流域面雨量的结果仍然会存在差别; 不同方法计算的某一子流域面雨量的差别越大, 则TOPMODEL水文模型输出的该子流域径流深的差别也越大。     

利用天气雷达观测资料预报小流域流量

将天气雷达降水临近预报与半分布式水文模型TOPMODEL(TOPography based hydrological MODEL)相结合,研究了降水临近预报延伸小流域流量预报预见期的可行性。研究流域为淠河(安徽省内)上游的佛子岭流域(1813km~2)内划分出的6个上游源头小流域(约60—100km~2)。用雷达估测的降水得到的流量输出作为参考,与1h降水临近预报得到的流量输出进行比较。结果表明:定量降水临近预报准确率是延伸小流域流量预报预见期的关键;基于所研究的个例,定量降水临近可以延长小流域流量预报预见期平均约0.7h左右,但其延长程度还受到具体降水过程、流域属性等的影响。     

雷达定量降水估算在水文模式汛期洪水预报中的应用试验

通过雷达测雨技术获得高时空分辨率的降雨信息,作为水文模型的输入,用以提高水文预报的精度。文章以湖北省白莲河流域为例,利用分组Z-I关系转化雷达反射率为雨强,运用地面雨量站网实测雨量对其进行校准,将不同方法估算得到的雨量结果输入新安江模型进行洪水预报测试,结果表明未校准雷达估算降雨量直接输入水文模型,其结果是不理想的;利用校准后的雷达估算降雨量进行洪水预报,精度得到了很大提高。     

用反射率因子垂直廓线联合雨量计校准估测夏季区域强降水

提出了一种使用平均雷达反射率因子垂直廓线(VPR)联合雨量计校准估测地面降水的方法。选用2002年、2003年夏季长江中下游地区的宜昌和合肥新一代S波段多普勒雷达在几次大范围强降水过程中的部分时段体积扫描强度数据和周边100km范围内整理成10min一次的雨量资料，计算了区域上空短时平均VPR在地面的可能反射率因子值，并用此值反演降水，计算相对误差。同时，还分析了超短时强降水地区实时VPR的特征。结果表明:用最小二乘曲线拟合VPR数值，并联合雨量计平均校准因子估测降水，在大部分区域比较合理。与实测的降水比较可以看到，这种方法对提高估测区域性降水的精度都有效果；对于强对流性降水区域，只须用拟合法得到的地面反射率因子值估测地面降水。通过分析超短时强降水对应区域的实时VPR特征，有利于在无地面雨量计的地区通过分析VPR的特征来估测降水量的大小，结合其他要素分析降水的发展变化。