New Estimates of 24-Hour Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) for the British Isles

Estimates of PMP are needed in order to estimate the spillway design flood for dams which must be capable of safely passing the probable maximum flood (PMF). For over forty years the standard estimates of the Flood Studies Report (FSR) have almost always been used. However, since then several studies have shown that these values are too low, and new estimates for South West England and then Britain were published. This paper extends these studies to include the whole of the British Isles. The study uses 6570 station years’ data in a new method of frequency analysis that identifies part of the data which represents the long term situation. Further analyses to support the results of this approach have been produced from the in situ maximisation of 12 historic storms using World Meteorological Organisation methods. The results are broadly consistent with those obtained from frequency analysis. Values of 24 hour PMP in Britain range from 600 mm in upland areas of the Lake District, to 400 mm in parts of East Anglia. This range of values is present in Wales and parts of South West England. For Ireland the highest values are over the upland areas, such as in the Wicklow Mountains (550 mm) and SW Ireland (600 mm), while in the lowlands values around 350 mm can be expected. The question of uncertainty in estimating PMP is considered, most of which is due to the temporal and spatial shortcomings of the data. The implications for the probable maximum flood (PMF) and spillway design flood mean that widespread reassessment of dam safety should be carried out at once.

Estimation of Return Level for Maximum Daily and Hourly Precipitation in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Using the Extreme Value Theory

The weather in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, can be roughly classified into four types according to principal component analysis and k-means clustering. We predicted the extreme values of the maximum daily and hourly precipitation in Nagano Prefecture using the extreme value theory. For the maximum daily precipitation, the vales of ξ in Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Sugadaira, and Saku were positive;therefore, it has no upper bound and tends to take large values. Therefore, it is dangerous and caution is required. The values of ξ in Nagano, Kisofukushima, and Minamishinano were determined to be zero, therefore, there was no upper limit, the probability of obtaining a large value was low, and caution was required. We predicted the maximum return levels for return periods of 10, 20, 50, and 100 years along with respective 95% confidence intervals in Nagano, Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Sugadaira, Saku, Kisofukushima, and Minamishinano. In Matsumoto, the 100-year return level was 182 mm, with a 95% CI [129, 236]. In Minamishinano, the 100-year return level was 285 mm, with a 95% CI [173, 398]. The 100-year return levels for the maximum daily rainfall were 285, 271, and 271 mm in Minamishinano, Saku, and Karuizawa, respectively, where the changes in the daily maximum rainfall were larger than those at other points. Because these values are large, caution is required during heavy rainfall. The 100-year return levels for the maximum daily and hourly precipitation were similar in Karuizawa and Saku. In Sugadaira, the 100-year return level for a maximum hourly rainfall of 107.2 mm was larger than the maximum daily rainfall. Hence, it is necessary to be careful about short-term rainfall events.

Analysis of the Maximum Consecutive Precipitation Variation in Liaoning Artificial Precipitation Test Area

According to the daily precipitation data in artificial precipitation season during May to September from 1961 to 2008 in Liaoning Province,the maximum consecutive precipitation in the artificial precipitation test area is studied based on the maximum consecutive precipitation from May to September in 48 years.The results shows that the period of maximum consecutive precipitation in each month is different,and the variance trends of maximum consecutive precipitation in May,July,August and September are decreasing,while the variance trend of maximum consecutive precipitation in June is increasing.

Analysis of the Maximum Continuous Precipitation Variation in Shenyang in 48 Years

[Objective] The aim was to study the changes of maximum continuous precipitation in Shenyang in recent 48 years.[Method] By dint of the daily precipitation from May to September from 1961 to 2008 and according to simple linear trend estimates and microwave analysis,the maximum consecutive precipitation in each month was analyzed.[Result] The frequency of extreme value for the maximum consecutive precipitation in Shenyang increased since 1990.The decreasing trend of maximum consecutive precipitation from May to September was consistent with that around 1990.The decrease of maximum consecutive precipitation amount had tendency to decrease along with the passing of time.There was 5 years temporal scale period of maximum consecutive precipitation from May to September in Shenyang.Maximum value occurred in 1973 and the minimum value occurred in 2000.[Conclusion] The study had important reality meaning to the understanding of climate changes in Shenyang and disaster prevention and relief work of extreme climate incidents.

Decadal Variations of Extreme Tropical Cyclones Influencing China during 1949-2009

Decadal variations of extreme tropical cyclones （TCs） influencing China were. investigated based on the tracks, landfall information, precipitation and wind data during 1949-2009. The extreme landfall date events are less in the 1970s and 2000s. The number of extreme events of maximum wind speed and minimum pressure near TC＇s center reached the highest in the 2000s. The extreme rain duration events had the highest frequence in the 1970s, and the extreme strong wind duration events had the maximum frequence in the 1980s. The number of stations whereat the extreme maximum daily precipitation or process precipitation is observed, is the largest in the 1960s, and the number of stations whereat daily maximum wind speed events axe observed, is the largest in the 1980s.

Efficiency of Severe Recorded Rainstorms over Maharashtra State

12 severe rainstorms have been experienced by different meteorological sub-divisions of Maharashtra State during the last 100-year period from 1891-1990. For each of the rainstorms efficiency factors (i.e. P/ M ratios) were worked out for maximum one-day duration and for three standard areas of 1000, 5000, and 10,000 km2. Comparison of these ratios with the past has shown that the most efficient rainstorm over Maharashtra was the rainstorm of June, 1908 over the Vidarbha region whose full DAD data as well as isohyetal pattern have been given.