ESTIMATION OF AREAL REDUCTION FACTORS IN THE PROVINCE OF CÓRDOBA (SOUTHERN SPAIN)

Abstract

There are many hydrological and meteorological applications requiring knowledge about spatial and temporal variability of rainfall over an area. The intensity of point precipitation is only applicable for relatively small areas, being necessary the use of empirical methods to estimate areal reduction factors (ARF). In some of them, ARF is unique for different recurrence intervals, while in others the ARF is a function of recurrence interval. These indices are used to transform point rainfall depths to an equivalent rainfall depth over an area. Generically, ARF is defined as the ratio between the average areal depth of precipitation and the average point depth. In the present study, different methods of ARF calculations have been evaluated in the province of Córdoba, located in the centre of Andalusia region (Southern Spain). Andalusia is a Mediterranean region where rainfall generally decreases from West to East, characterized by high temporal variability (some extreme events) and high spatial variability as a consequence of rugged relief. Keywords (3-6): areal reduction factor, precipitation, rainfall, Southern Spain