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Features of tropical cyclone-induced flood peaks on Grande Terre, New Caledonia

Terry, James P. and Kostaschuk, R.A. and Wotling, G. (2008) Features of tropical cyclone-induced flood peaks on Grande Terre, New Caledonia. Water and Environment Journal, 22 (3). pp. 177-183. ISSN 1747-6585

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Abstract

New Caledonia, an archipelago of islands in the South Pacific, is periodically affected in the wet season by tropical cyclones that can deliver intense rainfall and cause severe river flooding. On the mountainous island of Grande Terre, the majority of the largest historical flows in the Tontouta River were caused by tropical cyclones and 75% of cyclone-induced floods were overbank events. Discharge data for the Tontouta River over the period 1969–2003 were used to construct partial duration series (PDS) of daily mean and instantaneous flows. The log Pearson Type III distribution provided a good fit to the PDS. Instantaneous flows are much higher than daily flows, reflecting the flashiness of tropical cyclone hydrographs. This highlights the need to use instantaneous flow data, where available, to investigate flood hazards in steep tropical basins impacted by tropical cyclones.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment
Depositing User: Ms Neha Harakh
Date Deposited: 10 Jan 2008 23:16
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2012 02:44
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/219
UNSPECIFIED

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