On the Frequency Distribution of Raindrop Sizes
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 2
Abstract
Knowledge of the distribution of the raindrop sizes during a storm is important in many engineering applications. Since drop size information is usually expressed parametrically, it is important that the proper model to describe the distribution be used. On the basis of observed frequencies, the lognormal and upper limit distributions were tested on raindrop size data taken from different sites in the U.S. and for different rainfall rates. After estimating parameters by the method of maximum likelihood, the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test indicates that the lognormal distribution provides a better representation than all the other models examined.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ateshian, J. K. H., “Estimation of Rainfall Erosion Index,” Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division, ASCE, Vol. 100, No. 3, Sept., 1974, pp. 293–308.
2.
Banks, R. B., and Flores, H. F., “Effect of Wind and Rain on Surface Reaeration,” Journal of the Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 103, No. EE3, June, 1977, pp. 489–506.
3.
Benjamin, J. R., and Cornell, C. A., Probability, Statistics and Decision for Civil Engineers, McGraw‐Hill Book Company, New York, N.Y., 1970.
4.
Best, A. C., “The Size Distribution of Raindrops,” Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Vol. 76, 1950.
5.
Bezdek, J. C., and Solomon, K., “The Upper Limit Lognormal Distribution for Drop Size Data,” Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division, ASCE, Vol. 109, No. 1, Mar., 1983, p. 72–88.
6.
Bubenzer, G. D., and Jones, B. A., “Drop Size and Impact Velocity Effects on the Detachment of Soil under Simulated Rainfall,” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Vol. 14, 1971.
7.
Foster, G. R., McCool, D. K., Renard, K. G., and Moldenhauer, W. C., “Conversion of the Universal Soil Loss Equation to SI Metric Units,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 36, 1981.
8.
Georgakakos, K. P., and Bras, R. L., “A Hydrologically Useful Station Precipitation Model, 1. Formulation,” Water Resources Research, Vol. 20, No. 11, 1984.
9.
Glass, L. J., and Smerdon, E. T., “Effect of Rainfall on Velocity Profile in Shallow Channel Flow,” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Vol. 10, 1967.
10.
IMSL Library Reference Manual, IMSL LIB‐9000, Vol. 4, Chapter Z, June, 1982.
11.
Laws, J. O., “Measurement of the Fall Velocity of Water Drops and Raindrops,” Transactions, AGU, Vol. 22, 1941, pp. 709–721.
12.
Laws, J. O., and Parsons, D. A., “The Relation of Raindrop Size to Intensity,” Transactions, AGU, Vol. 24, 1943, pp. 452–458.
13.
Lenard, P., “Ueber Regen,” Meteor. Z., Vol. 21, 1904, pp. 249–260.
14.
Linsley, R. K., Kohler, M. A., and Paulhus, J. L. H., Hydrology for Engineers, McGraw‐Hill Book Company, New York, N.Y., 1975.
15.
Marshall, J. S., and Palmer, W. M., “The Distribution of Raindrops with Size,” Journal of Meteorology, Vol. 5, 1948.
16.
Massey, F. J., Jr., “The Kolmogorov‐Smirnov Test for Goodness of Fit,” Journal of the American Statistical Society, Vol. 46, No. 6, 1951.
17.
Metcalf and Eddy, Inc., “Stormwater Management Model,” Technical Report No. 110240Co7 72, U.S.E.P.A., 1971.
18.
Mueller, E. A., “Radar Cross Sections from Drop Size Spectra,” thesis presented to the Univ. of Illinois, at Urbana, Ill., in 1966, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
19.
Muller, D. E., “A Method for Solving Algebraic Equations Using an Automatic Computer,” Mathematical Tables and Aids to Computation, 1956.
20.
Quimpo, R. G., and Brohi, A. G., “Rainfall Energy from Drop Size Data,” Water Science Technology, Copenhagen, Vol. 16, No. 8/9, 1983.
21.
Shen, S. W., and Li, R. M., “Rainfall Effect on Sheet Flow over a Smooth Surface,” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, Vol. 99, No. HY5, May, 1973.
22.
Wischmeier, W. H., Smith, D. D., and Uhland, R. E., “Evaluation of Factors in the Soil Loss Equation,” Journal of Agricultural Engineering, Vol. 39, 1958.
23.
Wischmeier, W. H., “Rainfall Erosion Potential,” Journal of Agricultural Engineering, Vol. 43, 1962.
24.
Wischmeier, W. H., and Smith, D. D., “Predicting Rainfall Erosion Losses from Cropland East of the Rocky Mountains,” Guide for Selection of Practices for Soil and Water Conservation Agricultural Handbook, U.S.D.A.A.R.S., Washington, D.C., 1965.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 112 • Issue 2 • May 1986
Pages: 119 - 129
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1986
Published in print: May 1986
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.