Regional frequency analysis of extreme rainfalls

Abstract

This study proposes two alternative methods for estimating the distribution of extreme rainfalls for sites where rainfall data are available (gaged sites) and for locations without data (ungaged sites). The first method deals with the estimation of short-duration rainfall extremes from available rainfall data for longer durations using the "scale-invariance" concept to account for the relationship between statistical properties of extreme rainfall processes for different time scales. The second method is concerned with the estimation of extreme rainfalls for ungaged sites. This method relies on a new definition of homogeneous sites. Results of the numerical application using data from a network of 10 recording rain gauges in Quebec (Canada) indicate that the proposed methods are able to provide extreme rainfall estimates that are comparable with those based on observed at-site rainfall data.