Abstract
A wide variety of engineering applications requires the use of maximum values of rainfall intensity and wind speed related to short recording intervals, which can often only be estimated from available less exhaustive records. Given that many locations lack exhaustive climatic records that would allow accurate empirical correlations between different recording intervals to be identified, generic equations are often used to estimate these extreme values. The accuracy of these generic estimates is especially important in fields such as the study of wind-driven rain, in which both climatic variables are combined to characterise the phenomenon. This work assesses the reliability and functionality of some of these most widespread generic equations, analysing climatic datasets gathered since 2008 in 109 weather stations in Spain and the Netherlands. Considering multiple recording intervals at each location, it is verified that most of these generic estimations, used especially in the study of wind-driven rain, have functional limitations and can cause significant errors when characterising both variables for subdaily intervals and extreme conditions. Finally, an alternative approach is proposed to accurately extrapolate extreme values of both variables related to any subdaily recording interval in a functional manner and from any available records.
Highlights
Various engineering applications require incorporating values of rainfall intensity and wind speed related to extreme weather events and short time intervals
A wide variety of engineering applications requires the use of maximum values of rainfall intensity and wind speed related to short recording intervals, which can often only be estimated from available less exhaustive records
Generic equations can produce inaccuracies because the particularities of the local climatic conditions are not considered. These generic equations are commonly used at locations without exhaustive records, causing undetermined errors in the subsequent calculations that use these estimated values (Blocken and Carmeliet 2010; Cornick and Lacasse 2009; Kpran and Ge 2014; Sahal and Lacasse 2008; Overton 2013). This research addresses these issues by proposing an alternative estimation procedure capable of determining reliable rainfall intensity and wind speed values (i) calculated from any climatic records usually available; (ii) for any recording interval less than 1 day; and (iii) adjusted to the particular conditions of the extreme weather events at each site
Summary
Various engineering applications require incorporating values of rainfall intensity and wind speed related to extreme weather events and short time intervals (commonly less than 1 day). These generic equations are commonly used at locations without exhaustive records (especially for wind-driven rain applications and general purposes), causing undetermined errors in the subsequent calculations that use these estimated values (Blocken and Carmeliet 2010; Cornick and Lacasse 2009; Kpran and Ge 2014; Sahal and Lacasse 2008; Overton 2013) This research addresses these issues by proposing an alternative estimation procedure capable of determining reliable rainfall intensity and wind speed values (i) calculated from any climatic records usually available; (ii) for any recording interval less than 1 day; and (iii) adjusted to the particular conditions of the extreme weather events at each site. This alternative approach can provide a clear improvement for applications in the scope of wind-driven rain, it can be useful in other engineering fields previously mentioned
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