Homogeneous zones of heavy rainfall of 1-day duration over India

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00866452
• Publication Date: 2005-01-07T16:42:19Z
• Authors: P. R. Rakhecha; A. K. Kulkarni; B. N. Mandal; N. R. Deshpande
• Keywords: Peninsula; Elevation (ballistics); Low latitude

The highest recorded 24-hour rainfall totals from 1875 to 1982 for about 300 stations were plotted and isohyets drawn to delineate the homogeneous zones of heavy rainfall. The isohyetal pattern indicated an unsteady increase from less than 20 cm in the far west and far north to over 50 cm on or near the coasts. At a few inland stations outstanding amounts have been recorded but these are randomly distributed in space and time. Besides these, there existed a densely gauged area in the Central Peninsula between latitudes 8 °N to 21 °N within which more than 20 cm of rain in 24 hours have never been recorded. The areas of heavy rainfall of one day duration include the entire Indian region except the far western extremity, the northern area bordered by the Himalayas and the central peninsula. The correlation coefficient between the highest rainfall and elevation indicated no significant relationship.