Regional Frequency Analysis of Droughts in Portugal

João Santos (), Maria Portela () and Inmaculada Pulido-Calvo ()

Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), 2011, vol. 25, issue 14, 3537-3558

Abstract: This study investigated the frequency of droughts for the period September 1910 to October 2004 in mainland Portugal, based on monthly precipitation data from 144 rain gauges distributed across the country. The drought events were characterized using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) applied to time scales of 1, 3, 6 and 12 consecutive months. Based on the SPI time scale series a regional frequency analysis of drought magnitudes was undertaken using two approaches: annual maximum series (AMS) and partial duration series (PDS). Three spatially defined regions (north, central and south) were identified by cluster analysis and analyzed for homogeneity. Maps of drought magnitude were developed using a kriging technique for several return periods. Similar uniform spatial patterns were found throughout the country using the AMS and PDS approaches. For several SPI time scales a comparison of the observed and estimated maximum magnitude (269-year empirical return period) showed that the AMS combined with the selected probability distribution models (Pearson type III, general Pareto and Kappa) provided better results than the PDS approach combined with the same models. A general and simplified characterization of drought duration revealed a relatively uniform pattern of droughts events across the country. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Keywords: Standardized precipitation index (SPI); Annual maximum series; Partial duration series; Regional frequency analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11269-011-9869-z

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