Fundamentals of Statistical Hydrology

Editors: Mauro Naghettini



Describes up-to-date methods for statistical analysis of hydrological variables

Includes numerous worked out examples with solutions, exercises with answers, and summaries for descriptors of the main probability distributions

Takes a not-too-simple and not-too-difficult approach, suitable for students with a basic-to-moderate background in mathematics

Contains useful reviews of mathematical concepts and listings of the hydrological data used within the book

This textbook covers the main applications of statistical methods in hydrology. It is written for upper undergraduate and graduate students but can be used as a helpful guide for hydrologists, geographers, meteorologists and engineers. The book is very useful for teaching, as it covers the main topics of the subject and contains many worked out examples and proposed exercises. Starting from simple notions of the essential graphical examination of hydrological data, the book gives a complete account of the role that probability considerations must play during modelling, diagnosis of model fit, prediction and evaluating the uncertainty in model predictions, including the essence of Bayesian application in hydrology and statistical methods under nonstationarity.

The book also offers a comprehensive and useful discussion on subjective topics, such as the selection of probability distributions suitable for hydrological variables. On a practical level, it explains MS Excel charting and computing capabilities, demonstrates the use of Winbugs free software to solve Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) simulations, and gives examples of free R code to solve nonstationary models with nonlinear link functions with climate covariates.

Table of contents

Front Matter
Pages i-xi

Introduction to Statistical Hydrology
Pages 1-20

Preliminary Analysis of Hydrologic Data
Pages 21-56

Elementary Probability Theory
Pages 57-97

Discrete Random Variables: Probability Distributions and Their Applications in Hydrology
Pages 99-122

Continuous Random Variables: Probability Distributions and Their Applications in Hydrology
Pages 123-201

Parameter and Quantile Estimation
Pages 203-250

Statistical Hypothesis Testing
Pages 251-309

At-Site Frequency Analysis of Hydrologic Variables
Pages 311-389

Correlation and Regression
Pages 391-440

Regional Frequency Analysis of Hydrologic Variables
Pages 441-495

Introduction to Bayesian Analysis of Hydrologic Variables
Pages 497-536

Introduction to Nonstationary Analysis and Modeling of Hydrologic Variables
Pages 537-577

Back Matter
Pages 579-660