The identification of an appropriate Minimum Inter‐event Time (MIT) based on multifractal characterization of rainfall data series. Issue 19 (12th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Medina‐Cobo, M. T.; García‐Marín, A.P.; Estévez, J.; Ayuso‐Muñoz, J.L.
• Is Part Of: Hydrological processes. Volume 30:Issue 19(2016)
• Page Start: 3507
• Page End: 3517
• Publication Date: 2016-06-12
• Subjects: rainfall event -- multifractality -- self‐organized criticality -- power‐law; Hydrology -- Periodicals; Hydrology -- Research -- Periodicals; Hydrologic models -- Periodicals; Hydrological forecasting -- Periodicals; 631.432
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10875
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6087

Abstract

Abstract: Different hydrological models of sediment entrainment, infiltration, overland flow production, soil loss, landslide occurrence, among others, need rainfall events data. The Minimum Inter‐event Time (MIT) used to separate rainfall events affects their properties. Therefore, it is highly important their correct definition. Various event definitions are commonly used in hydrology, and a high variety of MIT is applied. In this work, an easy method is proposed for deciding the proper MIT in a certain place when dealing with hourly rainfall data series. This new methodology is based on the scale invariance properties of rainfall, analysed with both multifractal and Self‐Organized Criticality theories. The similarity between some parameters from both analyses allows picking out the more appropriate MIT for the hourly rainfall data sets analysed, in Malaga (Southern Spain) and Bullileo (Central Chile). The method can be applied for different rainfall time resolutions according to the purpose of the model that needs the rain event information. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.