TECHNICAL PAPERS
Nov 1, 1995

Regional Frequency Analysis of Extreme Precipitation in Louisiana

Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 121, Issue 11

Abstract

A regional frequency analysis procedure is outlined and applied to precipitation data in Louisiana. A total of 92 rain gauges were used to generate 25 synthesized stations with long periods of record. Annual maximum series for rainfall durations of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hr from the 25 synthesized stations were used for various statistical analyses. The mean annual precipitation, geographical locations, and the synoptic generating mechanisms were used to identify the three climatologically homogeneous regions in Louisiana. Using the L-moment ratios, the underlying regional probability distribution was identified to be the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. The regional parameters of the GEV distribution were estimated by the indexed probability weighted moments (PWM). The regional analysis procedure was tested by Monte Carlo simulation. Relative root-mean-square error (RRMSE) and relative bias (RBIAS) were computed and compared with those resulting from at-site Monte Carlo simulation. All results show that the regional procedure can substantially reduce the RRMSE and RBIAS in quantile prediction.

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Information & Authors

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Go to Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 121Issue 11November 1995
Pages: 819 - 827

History

Published online: Nov 1, 1995
Published in print: Nov 1995

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Authors

Affiliations

Babak Naghavi, Associate Member, ASCE
Res. Administrator, Louisiana Transp. Res. Ctr., 4101 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
Fang Xin Yu
Res. Assoc., Louisiana Transp. Res. Ctr., 4101 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge, LA.

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