Updated Precipitation Frequency Estimates for Kansas City: Comparison with TP-40 and HYDRO-35
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper summarizes methods and results for a recent precipitation frequency study of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The study was motivated by prevalent concern that frequency estimates used for hydrologic design and analysis are based on studies published decades ago. Data currently used for design were extracted from National Weather Service (NWS) rainfall atlases TP-40 and HYDRO-35, published in 1961 and 1977, respectively. Results of this study are compared to those two atlases and a third regional study published by Huff and Angel in 1992. In general, the rainfall depths predicted by this study are higher than TP-40 and HYDRO-35 for return periods longer than , yet for short durations and low return periods, the converse is true. For the most part, rainfall depths from this study are within a few percent of NWS estimates.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by a grant from the Kansas City Metropolitan Chapter of the American Public Works Association. Funding for this grant was contributed by a number of municipal governments and consulting firms in the Kansas City area. This support is sincerely appreciated. Special thanks go to Bill Heatherman, Dan Miller, and Mike Ross of Overland Park, Kan., for coordinating this support and for providing the ALERT raingauge data used for this study. Xuemei Zhao, a graduate research assistant, aided with analysis of the daily and hourly rainfall data. Her help on this project is greatly appreciated.
References
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© 2006 ASCE.
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Received: Aug 31, 2004
Accepted: Jul 5, 2005
Published online: May 1, 2006
Published in print: May 2006
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