Abstract

The aim of this study is to use cluster analysis and L-moment methods together to quantify regional rainfall patterns of Luan He basin using annual rainfall of 17 stations for the period of 1932-1970. The cluster analysis follows“Ward's method” and shows seven regions of rainfall in Luanhe basin. The homogeneity test of L-moments shows that some of these regions are homogeneous. Using the goodness-of-fit test, ZDist, the regional frequency distribution functions for each group are then selected. In this study, five three parameter distributions generalized logistic (GLO), generalized extreme-value (GEV), generalized normal (GNO), Pearson type-3 (PE III) and generalized pareto distributions (GPA) were fitted to the four homogeneous regions. However, because of different rainfall generating mechanisms in the basin such as elevation, sea neighborhood and large atmospheric circulation systems, no parent distribution could be found for the entire basin. The aim of this study is to use cluster analysis and L-moment methods together to quantify regional rainfall patterns of Luan He basin using annual rainfall of 17 stations for the period of 1932-1970. The cluster analysis follows “Ward's method” and shows seven regions of rainfall in Luanhe basin. The homogeneity test of L-moments shows that some of these regions are homogeneous. Using the goodness-of-fit test, ZDist, the regional frequency distribution functions for each group are then selected. In this study, five three parameter distributions generalized logistic (GLO), generalized extreme-value (GEV), generalized normal (GNO), Pearson type-3 (PE III) and generalized pareto distributions (GPA) were fitted to the four homogeneous regions. However, because of different rainfall generating mechanisms in the basin such as elevation, sea neighborhood and large atmospheric circulation systems, no parent distribution could be found for the entire basin.