Regional frequency analysis of hydrological extremes - Poster only session & Open Forum (Sessione HS26 nell'ambito della EGU General Assembly 2005)

For more than four decades regional frequency analysis (RFA) of hydrological extremes (i.e., flood flows, droughts and rainstorms) has represented one of the most viable approaches for estimating design events at ungauged sites and defining regional-scale policies on water resource allocation or hydrological risk mitigation. The scientific literature reports a plethora of RFA procedures, ranging from simplistic and empirically-based methodologies to sophisticated and physically-based approaches. This session aims at presenting and discussing the latest developments and future perspectives on RFA of hydrological extremes. In particular, contributions are solicited that address one or more of the following points: (i) identification of key physical indicators describing the frequency regime of hydrological extremes and controlling causative mechanisms of floods, droughts and rainstorms; (ii) assessment of the impact of intersite correlation on the information content of regional samples; (iii) quantification of the uncertainty associated with regional estimates of the design event for ungauged sites. The session format consists of a poster session and an open forum discussion in a splinter meeting room afterwards. During the open forum discussion we will examine the feasibility of establishing a European Working Group on RFA of hydrological extremes.