Bivariate frequency analysis of flood variables using copula in Kelantan river basin

Abstract

A copula-based methodology is presented in this study for bivariate flood frequency analysis of Kelantan river basin located in Northeast Malaysia. The joint dependence structures of three flood characteristics, namely, peak flow (Q), flood volume (V) and flood duration (D) were modelled using t-Copula. Various univariate distribution functions of flood variables were fitted with observed flood variables to find the best distributions. Cumulative joint distribution functions (CDF) of peak flow and volume (Q-F), peak flow and duration (Q-D) and volume and duration (V-D) revealed that return period of joint return periods are much higher compared to univariate return period. The joint probabilities of occurrence of 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2 and 0 can be expected when flood duration greater than 65 h, 54 h, 46 h, and 32 h, and the flood volume higher than 0.62 km3, 0.33 km3, 0.25 km3, and 0.22 km3 respectively.