Author(s): Jose Vargas Baecheler, Felipe Vásquez Cordero
Linked Author(s): José Vargas Baecheler
Keywords: Maximum precipitation events, extreme floods, variability
Abstract: This study aims to analyse the distribution of daily maximum precipitation with T=10 years and the variability both in magnitude and in frequency of the maximum floods that took place between parallels 34-39� of South latitude in the occidental edge of the Andes within the last 30 years, to find spatial trends in them, and also to establish links between these two variables. In order to develop a correct analysis, the decision of which stations should be used follows a minimum set of criteria, including the duration and quality of the data, the correct register of the most important floods within the last years, among others. For the precipitation study, 72 weather stations are used, which have complete daily rainfall information of the period from 1985 to 2015. In the case of extreme floods events, there is a total of 26 stream gauging stations that present information on the most important floods in that period. Daily maximum precipitation isohyets are made through different interpolation methods and are compared to previous studies. Furthermore, in the case of streams, annual maximum series, annual excess series and partial duration series with up to 4 times the amount of data per registered year are developed. In extreme flood events, it could be noticed that in stations of lower latitude in the area of study, the magnitude and frequency of flood tends to increase, while in places further south of the area, the behaviour is the complete opposite. In intermediate latitudes of the area of study significant trends are not seen, therefore presenting a more random behaviour. In the case of daily maximum precipitations, the behaviour is the opposite. In higher latitudes, an increase in this variable is seen. However, in lower latitudes the values decrease
Year: 2017