ASSESSMENT OF EXTREME PRECIPITATION INDICES: A CASE STUDY HUNGARY.

Climate extremes affect directly social and ecological systems. Therefore, extreme climatic indices based on daily precipitation as well as maximum and minimum air temperatures have been derived. A detailed analysis of extreme precipitation patterns is essential for the development of monitoring and mitigation strategies.The analysis of eight precipitation-related extreme climatic indices (annual total precipitation (PRCPTOT), heavy precipitation days (R10), very heavy precipitation days (R20), very wet days (R95pTOT), maximum 1-day precipitation (RX1day), simple daily intensity (SDII), maximum 5-day precipitation (RX5day), and extremely wet days (R99pTOT)) are presented in this paper using data from three Hungarian meteorological stations (Budapest, Debrecen and Szombathely) for the period from 1960 to 2010. There is no significant difference in SDII, R10, R20 and R95pTOT indices at any of the analyzed stations. The RX1day and RX5day indices indicate increasing values at Budapest station after 1990. Similarly, the R99pTOT index had increased values at Budapest station for the period 2000–2010. The PRCPTOT values slightly decreased at Budapest and Szombathely stations in the entire period 1960–2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]