Topographic Effects on Statistical Characteristics of Heavy Rainfall and Mapping in the French Alps
Open Access
- 1 April 2001
- journal article
- Published by American Meteorological Society in Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- Vol. 40 (4) , 720-740
- https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(2001)040<0720:teosco>2.0.co;2
Abstract
This paper uses detailed topographic characterization of relief for mapping statistical parameters of heavy rainfall in the French Alps. After determination of statistical parameters of heavy rainfall for time steps ranging from 1 to 24 h at rain gauging stations (10- and 100-yr rainfall), multivariate linear regression is used to identify the relationships between rainfall and morphometric parameters. Statistical characteristics of heavy rainfall events measured on short time steps (less than 3 h) are better linked to relief characteristics than are those on longer time steps. Furthermore, the rainfall parameters are shown to be closely linked to geographic features at a location in the Alps, such as distance to the Mediterranean Sea. More-local variables, such as altitude, slope, or azimuth, are less relevant. A mapping methodology based on linear relationships between rainfall parameters and topographic parameters is defined. This methodology takes into account the spatial structure of multiva... Abstract This paper uses detailed topographic characterization of relief for mapping statistical parameters of heavy rainfall in the French Alps. After determination of statistical parameters of heavy rainfall for time steps ranging from 1 to 24 h at rain gauging stations (10- and 100-yr rainfall), multivariate linear regression is used to identify the relationships between rainfall and morphometric parameters. Statistical characteristics of heavy rainfall events measured on short time steps (less than 3 h) are better linked to relief characteristics than are those on longer time steps. Furthermore, the rainfall parameters are shown to be closely linked to geographic features at a location in the Alps, such as distance to the Mediterranean Sea. More-local variables, such as altitude, slope, or azimuth, are less relevant. A mapping methodology based on linear relationships between rainfall parameters and topographic parameters is defined. This methodology takes into account the spatial structure of multiva...Keywords
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