Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin

The number of severe storms (more than 20 mm hr-1 of rainfall) in the Mexico City basin has increased in recent decades. In some parts of the city there is substantially more precipitation than in the past. These changes in the weather regime have resulted in higher risk to intense precipitation and...

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Main Authors: Matías Méndez, Joel Pérez, Víctor Magaña
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geofísica 2003-04-01
Series:Geofísica Internacional
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/02/magana.pdf
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author Matías Méndez
Joel Pérez
Víctor Magaña
author_facet Matías Méndez
Joel Pérez
Víctor Magaña
author_sort Matías Méndez
collection DOAJ
description The number of severe storms (more than 20 mm hr-1 of rainfall) in the Mexico City basin has increased in recent decades. In some parts of the city there is substantially more precipitation than in the past. These changes in the weather regime have resulted in higher risk to intense precipitation and floods. In disaster preparedness activities, it is necessary to determine when an extreme precipitation event occurs. In the present study, a criterion to determine an extreme precipitation event in the Mexico city basin is defined. Based on continuous records of precipitation from a dense rain gauge network, the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation are documented. The western part of the city experiences the strongest precipitation events due to the interaction of easterly winds with orography. Thus, the threshold values for an extreme event are higher in the western than in the eastern part of the basin. The current capability to predict extreme precipitation events in Mexico City using a mesoscale model is analyzed. Potential use of weather information to reduce the vulnerability of Mexico City to intense precipitation is discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-e2e708b7a2594af6b19350e06b35d2212023-08-02T02:51:00ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de GeofísicaGeofísica Internacional0016-71692003-04-01422247259Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City BasinMatías MéndezJoel PérezVíctor MagañaThe number of severe storms (more than 20 mm hr-1 of rainfall) in the Mexico City basin has increased in recent decades. In some parts of the city there is substantially more precipitation than in the past. These changes in the weather regime have resulted in higher risk to intense precipitation and floods. In disaster preparedness activities, it is necessary to determine when an extreme precipitation event occurs. In the present study, a criterion to determine an extreme precipitation event in the Mexico city basin is defined. Based on continuous records of precipitation from a dense rain gauge network, the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation are documented. The western part of the city experiences the strongest precipitation events due to the interaction of easterly winds with orography. Thus, the threshold values for an extreme event are higher in the western than in the eastern part of the basin. The current capability to predict extreme precipitation events in Mexico City using a mesoscale model is analyzed. Potential use of weather information to reduce the vulnerability of Mexico City to intense precipitation is discussed.http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/02/magana.pdfExtreme precipitation eventweatherMexico City
spellingShingle Matías Méndez
Joel Pérez
Víctor Magaña
Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
Geofísica Internacional
Extreme precipitation event
weather
Mexico City
title Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
title_full Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
title_fullStr Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
title_short Diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the Mexico City Basin
title_sort diagnosis and prognosis of extreme precipitation events in the mexico city basin
topic Extreme precipitation event
weather
Mexico City
url http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/02/magana.pdf
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