Development of Models for Rainfall Intensity- duration-frequency for Akure, South-west, Nigeria

Abstract

The rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) relationship is widely used for adequate estimation of rainfall intensity over a particular catchment. A 25 year daily rainfall data were collected from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Abuja for Akure station. Twenty five year annual maximum rainfall amounts with durations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 420 minutes were extracted and subjected to frequency analysis using the excel solver software wizard. A total of six (6) return period specific and one (1) general IDF models were developed for return periods of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years using Gumbel Extreme Value Type-1 and Log Pearson Type -3 distributions. Anderson Darling goodness of fit test was used to ascertain the best fit probability distribution. The R2 values range from 0.982 to 0.985 for GEVT -1 and 0.978 to 0.989 for Log Pearson type -3 while the Mean Squared Error from 33.56 to 156.50 for GEVT -1 and 43.01 to 150.63 Log Pearson Type III distributions respectively. The probability distribution models are recommended for the prediction of rainfall intensities for Akure metropolis.