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Fact Sheet 2010–3063

In cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Recent (2001–09) Hydrologic History and Regionalization Studies in Texas—Statistical Characterization of Storms, Floods, and Rainfall-Runoff Relations

By William H. Asquith

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As part of numerous cooperative studies investigating rainfall and streamflow during 1991–2009 with the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published about 20 reports describing either historical streamflow conditions (hydrologic history) in Texas or the results of studies involving regional rainfall and streamflow statistics (regionalization studies). Both types of studies are widely used in engineering and scientific applications. Long-term rainfall and streamflow records are essential for deriving reliable rainfall and streamflow statistics. Whereas the need for such records is regionwide, rainfall and streamflow records are site-specific. The USGS has pioneered ways to mathematically transfer site-specific rainfall and streamflow information to provide regional statistical models. In addition to publishing reports describing historical hydrologic data at many monitored locations throughout Texas, the USGS has published reports describing regional models for estimating rainfall and streamflow statistics at unmonitored locations. The primary objectives of these regionalization studies were to provide historical perspectives of streamflow conditions in Texas or estimates of specific statistics of rainfall or streamflow. Statistics such as 6-hour, 1-percent annual exceedance rainfall (a large storm) or 2-percent annual exceedance streamflow (a substantial flood) can be estimated for locations lacking sufficient direct observations of rainfall and streamflow data. This fact sheet provides a brief synopsis of 12 recent (2001–09) USGS hydrologic history and regionalization studies in Texas organized thematically and chronologically.

First posted August 26, 2010

For additional information contact:
Director, Texas Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
1505 Ferguson Lane
Austin, TX 78754-4501

http://tx.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Asquith, W.H., 2010, Recent (2001–09) hydrologic history and regionalization studies in Texas—Statistical characterization of storms, floods, and rainfall-runoff relations: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010–3063, 2 p.



Contents

A Public Need for Regionalization Studies

Studies of Rainfall Statistics in Texas

Studies of Flood-Flow Magnitude in Texas

Studies of Rainfall-Runoff Relations in Texas

Studies of Streamflow History in Texas


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