Author(s): Kengo Sunada
Linked Author(s): Kengo Sunada
Keywords: Monthly precipitation; Deviation power; Spatial scale; Drought'88
Abstract: A basic analysis of the characteristics of spatial distribution of monthly precipitation in the United States is presented. Monthly hydrologic quantities seem to be effective for detecting a relation between the long periodic variations of atmospheric conditions and meteorological backgrounds in a large scale area. Data of precipitation at 176 observation stations in the United States for 5 years, from 1984 to 1988, was used. First, the deviation power and the spatial scales of precipitation area are defined statistically, and characteristics of the power and the scales are examined. Next, the two-variate Gamma distribution function is applied to obtaining a return period of a hydrologic condition with much or little precipitation taking the spatial scale into account. Last, the relations between the spatial scales and the distances between centers of high atmospheric pressure zones in each month are discussed.
Year: 1993