10-Day probable rainfall for Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

The knowledge of probable rainfall can contribute substantially to farming activities, mainly in irrigation projects. This work was carried out aiming to determine the probable rainfall for Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Daily precipitation data from 1975 to 2010 were summed in 10-day period (decennial) and applied to Gamma distribution. The probable rainfall was estimated to different probability levels (ranging 10% to 95%). The Gamma distribution was suitable to estimate the probable rainfall for 10-day period. During the wet season the historical average rainfall (10-day period) has 40% of probability of exceedance and during the dry season has 30%. From this work the 10-day period rainfall can be estimated at different probability levels and contribute to farming activities, especially to irrigation.