Torres et al. (2026) Intensity-Duration-Frequency Equations for Brazil by the Maximum Daily Precipitation Transformation Method: Does Hydrological Regionalization Improve the Estimates?

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Identification

• Journal: Atmosphere
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-22
• Authors: Ivana Patente Torres, Roberto Avelino Cecílio, Marcel Carvalho Abreu
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos17100914

Research Groups

• Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE)
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

Short Summary

This study investigates the accuracy of intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) equations in Brazil by testing the Transformation of Maximum Daily Precipitation (TMDP) method with regionalized transfer coefficients. The results show that regionalization does not improve estimates at the national scale, but a specific region, the Northeast, exhibits improved performance.

Objective

• Investigate the effect of regionalizing transfer coefficients on the accuracy of IDF equations in Brazil

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: National and regional (Northeast) scales
• Temporal Scale: Long-term (pluviographic records)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Transformation of Maximum Daily Precipitation (TMDP) method, disaggregation by national coefficients
• Data sources: Rain gauge stations, atmospheric reanalysis variables

Main Results

• Regionalization did not improve estimates at the national scale, with median KGE decreases ranging from 0.035 to 0.055.
• The Northeast was a relevant exception, where OBS significantly outperformed TMDP and ENV showed the highest frequency of first-place results among regionalized configurations.
• TMDP eliminates a systematic 26.5% underestimation compared to national-coefficient disaggregation.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the accuracy of IDF equations in Brazil, highlighting the limitations of regionalization at the national scale and the potential benefits of region-specific approaches.
• The results demonstrate the importance of considering regional hydrological characteristics when applying TMDP.

Funding

• Not specified

Citation

@article{Torres2026IntensityDurationFrequency,
  author = {Torres, Ivana Patente and Cecílio, Roberto Avelino and Abreu, Marcel Carvalho},
  title = {Intensity-Duration-Frequency Equations for Brazil by the Maximum Daily Precipitation Transformation Method: Does Hydrological Regionalization Improve the Estimates?},
  journal = {Atmosphere},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/atmos17100914},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17100914}
}