Latitudinal Analysis of Rainfall Intensity and Mean Annual Precipitation in Chile

Abstract

The study and analysis of precipitation has become a crucial tool in understanding the temporal and spatial behavior of water resources, in terms of availability and impact on extreme events. The objective of this study was to evaluate different rainfall parameters (intensities for 1-h duration D = 1 h and return periods of T = 5 and 100 yr, and mean annual precipitation) for different latitudinal and climatic zones in Chile. We analyzed the information recorded on thousands of pluvial bands and rain gauges for 49 stations; this because it is unclear how rainfall intensities change along the country (though total amounts do), in addition to a lack of literature focused on ranges and amounts on the behavior of rainfall variables. The Gumbel probability distribution function (PDF) and mathematical rainfall intensity formulas were used to develop intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves for each station. Maximum and minimum rainfall intensity values for T = 100 yr ranged from 8.79 (hyperarid zone) to 40.17 mm h -1 (subhumid-humid zone). Total annual rainfall values ranged between 43.9 (hyperarid zone) and 3891.0 mm yr -1 (humid zone). Additionally, the real maximum intensity registered on each station was analyzed, determining its exceedance probability. Likewise, multiple comparisons were made to detect significant differences between the gauge stations and different climatic zones using the Kruskal Wallis test (alpha = 0.05). Differences between maximum and minimum values registered for all stations were as much as 80 times for total rainfall amounts and 4.5 times for rainfall intensities (T = 100 yr). However, maximum rainfall intensities values were similar at different latitudes, suggesting the absence of correlation between maximum rainfall intensity and annual rainfall amount, as the latter variable increased gradually with latitude.

Morphophysical pedotransfer functions for groundwater pollution by nitrate leaching in Central Chile

“…Pichidegua presents deep and very stratified alluvial soils (Mollic Xerofluvent; Casanova et al, 2013) in a Semiarid Mediterranean climate (≈ 700 mm yr -1 ; Pizarro et al, 2012). The soils selected, defined as Pichidegua Slurry (PS), were irrigated, cultivated with maize (Zea mays L.) during spring-summer period, and under fallow management and continuous pig slurry applications during autumn-winter in the last 10-yr.…”

Multi-decadal variations in annual maximum peak flows in semi-arid and temperate regions of Chile

“…Linsley et al 1977, Témez 1978, Pizarro and Novoa 1986, Chow et al 1994, Pizarro et al 2001, UNESCO 2007, Pizarro et al 2012, 2013.…”

“…For temperate zone stations, the Gumbel PDF fits the data better than the log-normal PDF. However, it was clear that in the semi-arid zone the log- normal PDF fits more accurately because rainfall and streamflow data there have more variability (Pizarro et al 2012). The Gumbel PDF was chosen for further analysis of the 30-year flood values because it has been used with good results in diverse hydrological studies in Chile (Pizarro et al 2001, UNESCO 2007, 2012, 2013.…”

Especies forestales para la recuperación de suelos contaminados con cobre debido a actividades mineras

“…Annual rainfall ranges from 200 to 450 mm, with an average of about 240 mm in normal years (Favier, Falvey, Rabatel, Pradeiro, & López, 2009). Positive rainfall anomalies are observed during El Niño events, while below-normal rainfall is mostly associated with La Niña conditions (Falvey & Garreaud, 2007;Pizarro et al, 2012;Valdés-Pineda et al, 2014;Valdés-Pineda et al, 2015).…”