Spatial and temporal distribution of storm rainfall and its effect on hydrometric design

• Main Author: Wilkinson, J. M.
• Published: University of Birmingham 1979
• Subjects: 551.5772
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.477301

This thesis develops techniques of rainfall analysis which are based on the recognition and interpretation of spatial and temporal storm patterns. The procedures are incorporated into a method of designing a network to record storm rainfall over Northumbriao Storm rainfall distributions over the area are classified into several pattern groups and links with synoptic conditions,seasons and flood events are investigatedo Great variation is found in the storm profiles and a classification system is developed, which is related to the form of the storm hydrographo The concept of Areal Reduction Factors is discussed and a Storm-Centred Areal Reduction Factor is proposed, based on rainfall configuration and peak value o Classical statistical analysis is found to be inappropriate to the design of a network to monitor storm rainfallo Hence an empirical approach is used, based on the breakdown of storm pattern as gauge density decrea~es. Initially it was thought that techniques of Geostatistics could measure the accuracy of the networko Trend Surface Analysis and Kriging, however, are found unsuitableo Results from Semi-Variogram Analysis (previously used to assess the optimum sampling density of ore bodies) are successful, and confirm those obtained from the physical breakdown of storm pattern.