An hourly rainfall generation model applicable to all types of climate

A method of estimating hydrological risk was developed and applied over the whole French territory, based on a stochastic hourly rainfall generation model. To facilitate the regionalization of the rainfall model, it was proposed to develop a single model that could be applied to all rainfall regimens. To adjust the rainfall model, we analysed the storm intensity patterns observed at 251 rainfall recording sites, ranging from temperate French climatic zones to the tropical conditions pertaining on the island of Reunion. Data obtained on the internal patterns of rainfall events were used to model extreme events, including the rainfall in humid tropical climates, more accurately. Thanks to the physical relevance of its parameters, this single model can be applied to climates of all kinds within an extremely wide rainfall range.