Regional Frequency Analysis of Low Flow Based on L Moments: Case Study in Karst Area, Southwest China
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 5
Abstract
Regional frequency analysis based on L moments has been used to analyze low flow in the karst area of southwest China. The 7-day low flow was regarded as the statistical quantity. Data from 12 stream flow gauging sites of the Wujiang water system in Guizhou Province are screened using the discordancy measure, and homogeneity of the region is then tested employing the L-moments-based heterogeneity measure. For computing heterogeneity measure , 500 simulations are performed using the kappa distribution. Based on this test, it is observed that these 12 gauging sites constitute a homogeneous region. Based on the L-moments ratio diagram, and statistic criteria, generalized logistic (GLO) distribution is identified as the robust distribution for the study area. Regional low flow frequency relationships are developed for estimation of low flow of various return periods for 12 gauged catchments using the GLO distribution and index flood method. Examination of the observed and computed low flow shows a good agreement in general, and the results justify practical application.
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Acknowledgments
The first writer thanks the financial support given by the National 973 Project under Grant No. UNSPECIFIED2006CB403204; the Special Fund of State Key Laboratory of China (UNSPECIFIED2009586412); the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of the Ministry of Education, China (UNSPECIFIED20090094120008); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. UNSPECIFIED40930635); and the Ground Project granted by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (UNSPECIFIED20064). Thanks to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions which improved the quality of the article.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 15 • Issue 5 • May 2010
Pages: 370 - 377
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2009
Accepted: Oct 15, 2009
Published online: Oct 22, 2009
Published in print: May 2010
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