Research Article

Scaling model of a rainfall intensity-duration-frequency relationship

  1. John Bougadis1,
  2. Kaz Adamowski2,*

Article first published online: 18 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6386

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Special Issue: Canadian Geophysical Union — Hydrology Section

Volume 20, Issue 17, pages 3747–3757, 15 November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bougadis, J. and Adamowski, K. (2006), Scaling model of a rainfall intensity-duration-frequency relationship. Hydrol. Process., 20: 3747–3757. doi: 10.1002/hyp.6386

Author Information

  1. 1

    Engineer, Delcan Corp., 1223 Michael Street, Gloucester, Ontario, K1J 7T2

  2. 2

    Professor, University of Ottawa, Department of Civil Engineering, Ottawa, K1N 6N5

*University of Ottawa, Department of Civil Engineering, Ottawa, K1N 6N5.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 18 OCT 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 MAR 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 1 AUG 2005

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Keywords:

  • scaling;
  • annual maximum rainfall;
  • intensity-duration-frequency relationships;
  • generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution

Abstract

Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) relationships are currently constructed based on an at-site frequency analysis of rainfall data separately for different durations. These relationships are not accurate and reliable since they depend on many assumptions such as distribution selection for each duration; they require a large number of parameters, and are not time-independent.

In this study, scaling properties of extreme rainfall are examined to establish scaling behaviour of statistical non-central moments over different durations. A scale invariance concept is explored for disaggregation (or downscaling) of rainfall intensity from low to high resolution and is applied to the derivation of scaling IDF curves. These curves are developed for gauged sites based on scaling of the generalized extreme value (GEV) and Gumbel probability distributions.

Numerical analysis was performed on annual maximum rainfall series for the province of Ontario, for storm durations of 5, 10, 15, and 30 min (the typical time of concentration for small urban catchments) and 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h (the typical time of concentration for larger rural watersheds).

Results show that rainfall does follow a simple scaling process. Estimates found from the scaling procedure are comparable to estimates obtained from traditional techniques; however, the scaled approach was more efficient and gives more accurate estimates compared with the observed rainfall total at all stations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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