How well do CORDEX models simulate extreme rainfall events over the East Coast of South Africa?

2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 453-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Abba Omar ◽  
Babatunde J. Abiodun
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events

ANALYSIS OF EXTREME RAINFALL INDICES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (9-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Shazwani Muhammad ◽  
Amieroul Iefwat Akashah ◽  
Jazuri Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Daily Rainfall Data ◽  
Extreme Rain ◽  
Increasing Trends

Extreme rainfall events are the main cause of flooding. This study aimed to examine seven extreme rainfall indices, i.e. extreme rain sum (XRS), very wet day intensity (I95), extremely wet day intensity (I99), very wet day proportion (R95), extremely wet day proportion (R99), very wet days (N95) and extremely wet days (N99) using Mann-Kendall (MK) and the normalized statistic Z tests. The analyses are based on the daily rainfall data gathered from Bayan Lepas, Subang, Senai, Kuantan and Kota Bharu. The east coast states received more rainfall than any other parts in Peninsular Malaysia. Kota Bharu station recorded the highest XRS, i.e. 648 mm. The analyses also indicate that the stations in the eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia experienced higher XRS, I95, I99, R95 and R99 as compared to the stations located in the western and northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Subang and Senai show the highest number of days for wet and very wet (N95) as compared to other stations. Other than that, all stations except for Kota Bharu show increasing trends for most of the extreme rainfall indices. Upward trends indicate that the extreme rainfall events were becoming more severe over the period of 1960 to 2014. 

scholarly journals A Numerical Model Study of an Intense Cutoff Low Pressure System over South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 1128-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Singleton ◽  
C. J. C. Reason
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
South Coast ◽  
African Region ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Southern African Region ◽  
Cutoff Low

Abstract Investigations of extreme rainfall events in the southern African region are limited by the paucity of the observational network. Furthermore, the lack of full radar coverage for South Africa makes quantitative precipitation estimation difficult. Therefore, numerical modeling represents the most effective method for improving the understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to extreme rainfall events in this region with the caveat that accurate validation of model simulations is hampered by the limited observations in the region. This paper describes an intense cutoff low event over South Africa that led to record rainfall and flash flooding along the south coast of the country and adjoining hinterland. Analyses from the Global Forecast System model showed that the cutoff aloft was accompanied by a strong low-level jet (LLJ) impinging onto the south coast where rainfall was heaviest, and that lapse rates were steep in the lower troposphere. Simulations of the event were carried out using a numerical model [i.e., the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5)], which showed that severe convection occurred over the ocean on the right-hand side of the LLJ, and at its leading edge where it impinged on the coastal topography. This topography was also very important in providing additional forcing for the ascent of moist air. A factor separation technique was used to show that surface heat fluxes from the warm sea surface temperature (SST) of the Agulhas Current were important in enhancing low-level cyclogenesis, and that topography was important in maintaining the position of the low-level coastal depression, which led to favorable conditions for rainfall remaining in the same area for an extended period of time. It is suggested that improved representation of the tight topographic and SST gradients of the southern African region in NWP models or postprocessing systems would help to provide more accurate forecasts of the amount and location of heavy precipitation during cutoff low events where surface forcing is important.

Estimation of Extreme Rainfall in South Africa and Development of Methods to Account for Non-stationary Climate Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn Johnson ◽  
Jeff Smithers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Frequency Analysis ◽  
Return Period ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Design Rainfall ◽  
High Return

<p>The estimation of design rainfalls and design floods are required by engineers and hydrologists to design and quantify the risk of failure of hydraulic structures. Extreme design rainfall quantities such as high-return period rainfalls and the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) are needed to design high-hazard hydraulic structures. In South Africa, previous design rainfall estimates have been produced up to the 200 year return period. PMP estimates were last determined nearly 50 years ago based on only 30 years of data. Most studies on extreme rainfall reported are based on frequency analysis assuming stationary conditions. Previous studies in South Africa have assumed a stationary climate. However, the assumption of a stationary climate in rainfall and flood frequency analysis has been challenged owing to evidence of climate change. Recent literature indicates that the magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall events has been changing and this is likely to continue in future. Hence, methods to account for trends in extreme rainfall events in a changing environment need to be developed. In addition, the concept of PMP, particularly as used for the design and safety evaluation of large dams in South Africa, is being challenged with the recommendation that high-return period design rainfalls be used in these assessments. The aims of this study are: (i) to estimate extreme design rainfall values, with a focus on return periods greater than 200 years, (ii) to update PMP estimates using updated data and modernised methods, and (iii) to account for non-stationary climate data in the estimation of these extreme rainfall events in South Africa. Frequency analysis using LH-moments, which more accurately fit the upper tail of distributions, have been used to estimate high-return period design rainfalls. Regular L-moments are shown to overestimate the extreme rainfall quantities when compared to LH-moments by giving undue favour to outliers. PMP estimates have been determined using a storm maximisation and transposition approach. Radial Basis Functions (RFBs) have been used to transpose PMP estimates to ungauged locations, producing PMPs for the entire country. Approximately 80 % of the new PMPs are greater than the previous estimates. This is probably due to the many limitations of the old approach and differences used in the new approach, indicating that the new approach undertaken in this study may provide improved estimates. The PMP represents the upper limit of extreme rainfall, however, comparisons of high-return period rainfalls to the PMP show that the PMP is sometimes exceeded by the high-return period rainfalls. To develop methods to estimate extreme design rainfall events in a non-stationary climate, this study explores the impacts of climate drivers, such as the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), and changes in atmospheric variables, such as dew point temperature, on high-return period rainfalls and the PMP.</p>

Using regional climate models to simulate extreme rainfall events in the Western Cape, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 689-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babatunde J. Abiodun ◽  
Sabina Abba Omar ◽  
Chris Lennard ◽  
Chris Jack
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Regional Climate Models ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events

scholarly journals Review: Methods for the estimation of extreme rainfall events

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3 July) ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Johnson ◽  
JC Smithers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Hydraulic Structures ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Extreme Floods ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Risk Of Failure

The estimation of design rainfalls is necessary to estimate the exceedance probabilities of extreme floods required to design hydraulic structures and to quantify the risk of failure of these structures. New approaches to estimating extreme rainfall events are being developed internationally. This paper reviews methods for estimating design rainfalls, particularly extreme events, in South Africa and internationally, and highlights the need to update methods used for estimating extreme rainfall events in South Africa as a platform for future research.

The Influence of Geographical Factors on Extreme Rainfalls in Lampung Province

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
M Welly
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Location ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Design Flood ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Ungauged Basin ◽  
Flood Discharge ◽  
Design Rainfall ◽  
Geographical Factors

Many people in Indonesia calculate design rainfall before calculating the design flooddischarge. The design rainfall with a certain return period will eventually be convertedinto a design flood discharge by combining it with the characteristics of the watershed.However, the lack of a network of rainfall recording stations makes many areas that arenot hydrologically measured (ungauged basin), so it is quite difficult to know thecharacteristics of rain in the area concerned. This study aims to analyze thecharacteristics of design rainfall in Lampung Province. The focus of the analysis is toinvestigate whether geographical factors influence the design rainfall that occurs in theparticular area. The data used in this study is daily rainfall data from 15 rainfallrecording stations spread in Lampung Province. The method of frequency analysis usedin this study is the Gumbel method. The research shows that the geographical location ofan area does not have significant effect on extreme rainfall events. The effect of risingearth temperatures due to natural exploitation by humans tends to be stronger as a causeof extreme events such as extreme rainfall.Keywords: Influence, geographical, factors, extreme, rainfall.

CLIMATOLOGY OF EXTREME RAINFALL EVENTS IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN SANTA CATARINA STATE, BRAZIL: PRESENT AND FUTURE CLIMATE

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Becker Nunes ◽  
Gilson Carlos Da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Climate Modeling ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Santa Catarina ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Events ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
History Of ◽  
Santa Catarina State

ABSTRACT. The eastern region of Santa Catarina State (Brazil) has an important history of natural disasters due to extreme rainfall events. Floods and landslides are enhancedby local features such as orography and urbanization: the replacement of natural surface coverage causing more surface runoff and, hence, flooding. Thus, studies of this type of events – which directly influence life in the towns – take on increasing importance. This work makes a quantitative analysis of occurrences of extreme rainfall events in the eastern and northern regions of Santa Catarina State in the last 60 years, through individual analysis, considering the history of floods ineach selected town, as well as an estimate through to the end of century following regional climate modeling. A positive linear trend, in most of the towns studied, was observed in the results, indicating greater frequency of these events in recent decades, and the HadRM3P climate model shows a heterogeneous increase of events for all towns in the period from 2071 to 2100.Keywords: floods, climate modeling, linear trend. RESUMO. A região leste do Estado de Santa Catarina tem um importante histórico de desastres naturais ocasionados por eventos extremos de precipitação. Inundações e deslizamentos de terra são potencializados pelo relevo acidentado e pela urbanização das cidades da região: a vegetação nativa vem sendo removida acarretando um maior escoamento superficial e, consequentemente, em inundações. Desta forma, torna-se de suma importância os estudos acerca deste tipo de evento que influencia diretamente a sociedade em geral. Neste trabalho é realizada uma análise quantitativa do número de eventos severos de precipitação ocorridos nas regiões leste e norte de Santa Catarina dos últimos 60 anos, por meio de uma análise pontual, considerandoo histórico de inundações de cada cidade selecionada, além de uma projeção para o fim do século de acordo com modelagem climática regional. Na análise dos resultados observou-se uma tendência linear positiva na maioria das cidades, indicando uma maior frequência deste tipo de evento nas últimas décadas, e o modelo climático HadRM3P mostra um aumento heterogêneo no número de eventos para todas as cidades no período de 2071 a 2100.Palavras-chave: inundações, modelagem climática, tendência linear.

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