A multicomponent self-similar characterization of rainfall fluctuations
- NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Issues of scaling characteristics in spatial rainfall have attracted increasing attention over the last decade. Several models based on simple/multi scaling and multifractal ideas have been put forth and parameter estimation techniques developed for the hypothesized models. Simulations based on these models have realistic resemblance to {open_quotes}generic rainfall fields{close_quotes}. In this research we analyze rainfall data for scaling characteristics without an a priori assumed model. We look at the behavior of rainfall fluctuations obtained at several scales, via orthogonal wavelet transform of the data, to infer the precise nature of scaling exhibited by spatial rainfall. The essential idea behind the analysis is to segregate large scale (long wavelength) features from small scale features and study them independently of each other. The hypothesis is set forward that rainfall might exhibit scaling in small scale fluctuations, if at all, and at large scale this behavior will break down to accommodate the effects of external factors affecting the particular rain producing mechanism. The validity of this hypothesis is examined. In addition we define and estimate parameters that characterize the spatial dependence of the rainfall fluctuations and we use these parameters, estimated for several frames (in time), to relate to and identify the evolutionary nature of rainfall. These parameters and the type of scaling show significant variation from one rainfall field to another.
- OSTI ID:
- 505178
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9207256-Vol.79; CNN: Grant BSC-8957469; Grant EAR-9117866; TRN: 97:003314-0011
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: IMA summer program on mathematical, computational, and statistical analyses in environmental studies, Minneapolis, MN (United States), 6-31 Jul 1992; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Environmental studies: Mathematical, computational, and statistical analysis; Wheeler, M.F. [ed.] [Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States)]; PB: 414 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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