Paleoflood Data Research Articles

Using historical data in nonparametric flood estimation

In recent years, a nonparametric approach to design flood analysis has emerged which is based on estimating the whole distribution of annual flood maxima from standard hydrological records. A simple modification is suggested here for incorporating historical or paleoflood data as well. The resulting analysis is somewhat different from the parametric alternative in that it may not prove possible to estimate within a “data gap” which may appear between the magnitudes of the largest modern floods and historical/paleoflood events. It is a matter of personal philosophy whether such gaps represent a true indication of the state of knowledge or are simply a disadvantage not experienced by parametric methods. An illustrative example is given using recent and historical flood data from the Yangtze River.

Research on flood frequency analysis: 1983–1986

What follows is a selective review of research on flood frequency analysis published in U.S. journals or by U.S. investigators in other journals during the period 1983 through 1986. It is selective in two ways. First, it excludes research on the use of historical and paleoflood data, which is reviewed in an accompanying paper. Second, it highlights what I believe to be the most critical areas.

Surface water hydrology: Historical and paleoflood information

Recent developments have greatly increased the likelihood that historical and paleoflood investigations can provide useful hydrologic flood‐frequency information. Advances in the dating of paleofloods, and in methods for estimating paleoflood discharges, have had their greatest impact on a relatively new procedure: the analysis of slackwater deposit‐paleostage indicators (SWD‐PSI). Statistical procedures have also evolved that make better use of historical and paleoflood data in flood‐frequency analyses and several studies have documented the potential value of using such information.