Articles | Volume 29, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Jan 2025
Research article |
| 23 Jan 2025
| 23 Jan 2025
Heavy-tailed flood peak distributions: what is the effect of the spatial variability of rainfall and runoff generation?
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Section Hydrology, Potsdam, Germany
Bruno Merz
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Section Hydrology, Potsdam, Germany
Institute for Environmental Sciences and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Viet Dung Nguyen
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Section Hydrology, Potsdam, Germany
Sergiy Vorogushyn
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Section Hydrology, Potsdam, Germany
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Short summary
Flood peak distributions indicate how likely the occurrence of an extreme flood is at a certain river. If the distribution has a so-called heavy tail, extreme floods are more likely than might be anticipated. We find heavier tails in small catchments compared to large catchments, and spatially variable rainfall leads to a lower occurrence probability of extreme floods. Spatially variable runoff does not show effects. The results can improve estimations of probabilities of extreme floods.
Flood peak distributions indicate how likely the occurrence of an extreme flood is at a certain...
