Regional analysis of flow duration curves for a limestone regione

The methodology proposed permits the regional analysis of that part of the duration curve which refers to droughts. It only requires (1) the definition of an equation, characterised by a set of parameters, describing the lower part of the duration curve and (2) the identification of a suitable number of statistical regional laws enabling the parameters of the selected equation to be calculated in any location where no direct discharge measurements are available. An application of the methodology to a case of the real world is then described. It refers to the Molise Region (Italy) where the effect of outcropping limestone complexes heavily influences the low flow characteristics. © 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers.