{"title":"Precipitation-elevation relationship: Non-linearity and space–time variability prevail in the Swiss Alps","authors":"Lionel Benoit , Erwan Koch , Nadav Peleg , Gregoire Mariethoz","doi":"10.1016/j.hydroa.2024.100186","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The relationship between mean daily precipitation and elevation is often regarded as linear and positive, resulting in simple “precipitation lapse rate” equations frequently employed to extrapolate daily rainfall from a single weather station over a large area. We examine the precipitation-elevation relationship in the Swiss Alps using a combination of weather radar and rain gauge data to test this common assumption, challenging it by fitting a two-segment piecewise linear model with a mid-slope break-point as an alternative. By examining data stratified by catchment, season, and weather type, we assess the space–time variability of the precipitation-elevation relationship. We conclude that a non-linear and non-stationary model seems necessary to capture the variability of the observed precipitation-elevation relationship. Based on our findings, we suggest that the simplified precipitation lapse rate concept is misleading and should be reconsidered in hydrological applications, emphasizing the need for a more realistic representation of precipitation variability over time and space.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36948,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology X","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100186"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589915524000166/pdfft?md5=5476d2fbeeb8f8e6e4cfbc3ca95b6d74&pid=1-s2.0-S2589915524000166-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hydrology X","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589915524000166","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The relationship between mean daily precipitation and elevation is often regarded as linear and positive, resulting in simple “precipitation lapse rate” equations frequently employed to extrapolate daily rainfall from a single weather station over a large area. We examine the precipitation-elevation relationship in the Swiss Alps using a combination of weather radar and rain gauge data to test this common assumption, challenging it by fitting a two-segment piecewise linear model with a mid-slope break-point as an alternative. By examining data stratified by catchment, season, and weather type, we assess the space–time variability of the precipitation-elevation relationship. We conclude that a non-linear and non-stationary model seems necessary to capture the variability of the observed precipitation-elevation relationship. Based on our findings, we suggest that the simplified precipitation lapse rate concept is misleading and should be reconsidered in hydrological applications, emphasizing the need for a more realistic representation of precipitation variability over time and space.