Distribution probability functions for models applied to hydraulic works in urban areas: LOG-GUMBEL vs LOG-PEARSON IIIRaúl

Authors

  • Raúl Montes-Pajuelo University of Huelva
  • Ángel Mariano Rodríguez-Pérez University of Almería
  • Julio José Caparrós-Mancera University of Huelva
  • César Antonio Rodríguez-González University of Huelva

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20868/ade.2025.5516

Keywords:

Modelling, hydrological engineering, precipitation distribution functions, drainage in urban areas

Abstract

Hydrometeorological models for hydraulic design rely on probability functions to model extreme rainfall. This study compares Log-Gumbel and Log-Pearson III functions using data from Almodóvar reservoir (Cádiz). Log-Gumbel, a variation of the Gumbel distribution, yields higher, safer estimates for long return periods (T), but is highly sensitive to data changes. Log-Pearson III, widely used and more stable, shows consistent results despite data variability. For designs with limited or variable data—common in hydraulic works—Log-Pearson III is preferred. However, for urban drainage where safety is prioritized over stability, Log-Gumbel offers a conservative alternative for high T values.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Bobee, B.B., Robitaille, R. The use of the Pearson type 3 and log Pearson type 3 distributions revisited. Water Resour. Res. 1977, 13,427–443. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR013i002p00427

2. Chow, V.T., Maidment, D.R., Mays, L.W. Applied Hydrology, McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, USA, 1988.

3. Coronado-Hernández, Ó. E., Merlano-Sabalza, E., Díaz-Vergara, Z., Coronado-Hernández, J. R. Selection of hydrological probability distributions for extreme rainfall events in the regions of Colombia. Water, 12(5), 2020, 1397. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051397

4. Gumbel, E.J. Les valeurs extrêmes des distributions statistiques. Ann. De L’institut Henri Poincaré 1935, 5, 115–158. Available online: http://www.numdam.org/item/AIHP_1935__5_2_115_0.pdf

5. Gumbel, E.J. The return period of flood flows. Ann. Math. Stat. 1941, 12, 163–190. Available online: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2235766

6. Heo, J.H., Salas, J.D. Estimation of quantiles and confidence intervals for the log-Gumbel distribution. Stoch. Hydrol. Hydraul. 1996, 10, 187–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01581463

7. Hossain, F., Jeyachandran, I., Pielke, R., Sr. Dam safety effects due to human alteration of extreme precipitation. Water Resour. Res., 2010, 46(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR007704

8. Huang, Y. P., Lee, C. H., Ting, C. S. Improved estimation of hydrologic data using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test. J. Chin. Inst. Eng., 31(3), 2008, 515-521. https://doi.org/10.1080/02533839.2008.9671406

9. Huynh, N.P., Thambirajah, J.A. Applications of the log Pearson type-3 distribution in hydrology. J. Hydrol. 1984, 73, 359–372.

10. International Commission of Large Dams. Definition of a Large Dam. Available online: https://www.icold-cigb.org/GB/dams/definition_of_a_large_dam.asp

11. Mailhot, A., Duchesne, S. Design criteria of urban drainage infrastructures under climate change. J. Water Resour. Plan. Manag. 2010, 136, 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000023

12. Maity, R. Statistical Methods in Hydrology and Hydroclimatology; Springer: Singapore, 2018; Volume 555. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5517-3

13. Ministerio Para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico. Gobierno de España. Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET). Available online: https://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos

14. Montes-Pajuelo, R., Rodríguez-Pérez, Á. M., López, R., Rodríguez, C. A. Analysis of Probability Distributions for Modelling Extreme Rainfall Events and Detecting Climate Change: Insights from Mathematical and Statistical Methods. Mathematics, 2024, 12(7), 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/math12071093

15. Pearson, K. Contributions to the mathematical theory of evolution. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. 1894, 185, 71–110. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1895.0010

16. R Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing; R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria, 2023. Available online: https://www.R-project.org

17. Rodríguez, C.A., Rodríguez-Pérez, Á.M., Mancera, J. J. C., Torres, J. A. H., Carmona, N. G., & Bahamonde, M. I. Applied methodology based on HEC-HMS for reservoir filling estimation due to soil erosion. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 2022, 70(3), 341-356. https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2022-0020

18. Rodríguez, C.A., Rodríguez-Pérez, Á.M., López, R., Hernández-Torres, J.A., Caparrós-Mancera, J.J. Sensitivity Analysis in Mean Annual Sediment Yield Modeling with Respect to Rainfall Probability Distribution Functions. Land, 2023, 12, 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010035

19. Teng, F., Huang, W., Ginis, I. Hydrological modeling of storm runoff and snowmelt in Taunton River Basin by applications of HEC-HMS and PRMS models. Natural Hazards, 2018, 91(1), 179-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3121-y

20. Watt, E., Marsalek, J. Critical review of the evolution of the design storm event concept. Can. J. Civ. Eng. 2013, 40, 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2011-0594

21. Wuensch, K.L. Chi-Square Tests. In International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science; Lovric, M., Ed.; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04898-2_173

Downloads

Published

2025-04-30

How to Cite

Montes-Pajuelo, R., Rodríguez-Pérez, Ángel M., Caparrós-Mancera, J. J., & Rodríguez-González, C. A. (2025). Distribution probability functions for models applied to hydraulic works in urban areas: LOG-GUMBEL vs LOG-PEARSON IIIRaúl. Anales De Edificación, 11(1), 58-61. https://doi.org/10.20868/ade.2025.5516

Most read articles by the same author(s)