Analysis of Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in the Damanganga Basin: Western India

Abstract

Flood Frequency Analysis (FFA) method was introduced by Fuller in 1914 to understand the magnitude and frequency of floods. The present study is carried out using the two most widely accepted probability distributions for FFA in the world namely, Gumbel Extreme Value type I (GEVI) and Log Pearson type III (LP-III). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) and Anderson-Darling (AD) methods were used to select the most suitable probability distribution at sites in the Damanganga Basin. Moreover, discharges were estimated for various return periods using GEVI and LP-III. The recurrence interval of the largest peak flood on record (Qmax) is 107 years (at Nanipalsan) and 146 years (at Ozarkhed) as per LP-III. Flood Frequency Curves (FFC) specifies that LP-III is the best-fitted probability distribution for FFA of the Damanganga Basin. Therefore, estimated discharges and return periods by LP-III probability distribution are more reliable and can be used for designing hydraulic structures.

Frequency and trend analyses of annual peak discharges in the Lower Mekong Basin

“…The magnitude and recurrence interval of floods can be assessed by several flood frequency analysis (FFA) methods that usually comprise Generalized Extreme Value, Log-normal, Log-Pearson Type-III (LP-III) [ 33 ], and Gumbel Extreme Value Type-I (GEVI) [ 34 , 35 ]. However, it is very challenging to select an appropriate technique for FFA [ [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] ]. The Gumbel distribution is appropriate for the prediction of the recurrence interval and magnitude of rainfall, and flood based on a low sample size while Log-normal gives good results for long-term stream flows [ 40 , 41 ].…”