| Volumes and Issues Contents of Issue 2 |
www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/4/589/2007/
© Author(s) 2007. This work is licensed
under a Creative Commons License.
Aspects of seasonality and flood generating circulation patterns in a mountainous catchment in south-eastern Germany
GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Section Engineering Hydrology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Abstract. Analyses of discharge series, precipitation fields and flood producing atmospheric circulation patterns reveal that two governing flood regimes exist in the Mulde catchment in south-eastern Germany: frequent floods during the winter and less frequent but sometimes extreme floods during the summer. Differences in the statistical parameters skewness and coefficient of variation of the discharge data can be found from west to east and are discussed in the context of landscape parameters that influence the discharge. Annual maximum discharge series were assigned to the triggering Großwetterlage in order to evaluate which circulation patterns are likely to produce large floods. It can be shown that the cyclone Vb-weather regime generates the most extreme flood events in the Mulde catchment, whereas westerly winds produce frequently small floods. Vb-weather regimes do not always trigger large flood events in the study area, but large floods are mostly generated by these weather patterns. Based on these findings, it is necessary to revise the traditional flood frequency analysis approach and develop new approaches which can handle different flood triggering processes within the dataset.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 13949 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 6 Comments) Final Revised Paper (HESS)
Citation: Petrow, T., Merz, B., Lindenschmidt, K.-E., and Thieken, A. H.: Aspects of seasonality and flood generating circulation patterns in a mountainous catchment in south-eastern Germany, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 4, 589-625, 2007. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
