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Multivariate Flood Frequency Analysis Using Bivariate Copula Functions

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Abstract

Multivariate analysis of flood frequency was used extensively in water resources research. Often the only flood peak or volume is analyzed with statistical distributions, but for a perfect and exact result, the four main characteristics of a flood event, as well as peak, volume, duration, and time-to-peak, are needed. For this reason, multivariate statistical approaches like copula functions developed. This research aims to define and use the bivariate copula (2-copula) probability distribution functions (PDF) for flood characteristics multivariate analysis. When the joint distribution of characteristics such as volume and peak is known, it is possible to define the probability of simultaneous occurrence of design volume and peak flow values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Engineering, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

    Homa Razmkhah, Alireza Fararouie & Amin Rostami Ravari

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  1. Homa Razmkhah
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  2. Alireza Fararouie
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  3. Amin Rostami Ravari
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Contributions

Homa Razmkhah: Conceptualization, data curation, methodology, analysis, interpretation of the results, software, visualization, and writing. Alireza Fararouie and Amin Rostami Ravari: Supervised the study and reviewed the whole content. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Homa Razmkhah.

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Razmkhah, H., Fararouie, A. & Ravari, A.R. Multivariate Flood Frequency Analysis Using Bivariate Copula Functions. Water Resour Manage 36, 729–743 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-03055-3

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