Temporally and Areally Distributed Rainfall

Abstract

Areally distributed rainfall can be readily computed by superimposing a square grid on the area of interest. Weights for each grid element for each raingage affecting the area are made functions of reciprocal distance to some power. In this study optimization confirmed the value of the exponent that is in general use. The method can be used to calculate the areal average of storm, day, or longer, total precipitation in climate determinations or water resource planning. It can also be used to calculate moving fields of rainfall by short-time increments during the progress of a storm over an area.