Analysis of Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in the Damanganga Basin: Western India

Abstract

Flood Frequency Analysis (FFA) method was introduced by Fuller in 1914 to understand the magnitude and frequency of floods. The present study is carried out using the two most widely accepted probability distributions for FFA in the world namely, Gumbel Extreme Value type I (GEVI) and Log Pearson type III (LP-III). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) and Anderson-Darling (AD) methods were used to select the most suitable probability distribution at sites in the Damanganga Basin. Moreover, discharges were estimated for various return periods using GEVI and LP-III. The recurrence interval of the largest peak flood on record (Qmax) is 107 years (at Nanipalsan) and 146 years (at Ozarkhed) as per LP-III. Flood Frequency Curves (FFC) specifies that LP-III is the best-fitted probability distribution for FFA of the Damanganga Basin. Therefore, estimated discharges and return periods by LP-III probability distribution are more reliable and can be used for designing hydraulic structures.