Spatial relationships of heavy rains in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Abstract. Study of heavy rain events and their spatial distribution are of great importance. Such events cause local flooding, accelerate soil erosion and cause damage on property. Data for this study were derived by Sokol and Bližňák (2009) from radar reflectivity and daily rain gauge measurements for the period of 2002–2008. We selected heavy rain events using spatial and intensity constrains. We studied relationships between heavy rains, altitude and terrain roughness. Heavy rain totals correlate with both altitude and terrain roughness globally over the Czech Republic. The correlation is also significant for extreme heavy rain totals. The correlation of heavy rain intensities with altitude was not proven. The highest rates of average intensities are located in the south-eastern parts of the Czech Republic. The spatial distribution of heavy rain frequencies strongly corresponds to the spatial distribution of heavy rain totals. The highest percentage of heavy rains in total precipitation is located in the north-west of the Czech Republic. The extreme heavy rains occupy higher altitudes.

Spatial variability and interdependence of rain event characteristics in the Czech Republic

“…Although the best formulas for event depth and number of events reported in Table III include total rainfall depth, the regressions considering altitude as an explanatory variable are also significant (with coefficients of determination of 0.52 and 0.2 for the relationship between event depth and number of events to altitude, respectively). Sokol and Bli z nák (2009) and Bek et al (2010) also mentioned only a weak and insignificant relationship of rain rate to altitude, which is in agreement with our results.…”

“…Sokol and Bližňák () and Bek et al . () also mentioned only a weak and insignificant relationship of rain rate to altitude, which is in agreement with our results.…”

“…The relationship of rainfall depth, rain rate, and number of events and altitude for the Czech Republic was studied by Sokol and Bližňák ()) and by Bek et al . (). Although the events have been defined differently in their studies, the results on the altitude dependence of these characteristics are consistent with our findings.…”

“…In addition, Bek et al . () found a significant increase in the number of events with altitude. Although the best formulas for event depth and number of events reported in Table include total rainfall depth, the regressions considering altitude as an explanatory variable are also significant (with coefficients of determination of 0.52 and 0.2 for the relationship between event depth and number of events to altitude, respectively).…”

Radar‐based summer precipitation climatology of the Czech Republic

“…() processed rain gauge data obtained from 1961 to 2000 and mainly focused on long‐term precipitation means, because sub‐daily station data were scarce at that time. Subsequent studies (Sokol and Bližňák, ; Bek et al ., ) have confirmed that radar‐derived precipitation estimates can be successfully employed to better understand the relationships between altitude and precipitation intensities.…”