On Investigation of Magnitude and Frequency of Annual Maximum Daily Precipitation in the Catchment of Bhakra Dam

The catchment of the Bhakra dam had witnessed many incidents of extreme precipitation resulting in catastrophic floods. The dam has played a pivotal role in protecting its downstream from catastrophic floods in the past. The present study examines the magnitude and frequency of annual maximum daily precipitation in Bhakra catchment for 110 years (1901-2010) using the gridded data of 0.250 collated from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The change in the magnitude is examined by various Non-parametric tests like Mann-Kendell, modified Mann-Kendell, Spearman Rank Correlation, Sens’slope, and innovative trend Analysis (ITA). The presence of sudden or abrupt change-point in the rainfall records is assessed by the nonparametric Pettitt test. Results indicated the presence of both positive and negative trends for annual maximum precipitation over the Bhakra catchment. Investigation on the frequency of annual maximum precipitation is conducted by using the framework of Generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution in terms of their upper tail behavior. Investigation reveals that the presence of heavy-tail behavior in the annual maximum precipitation over the Bhakra catchment. Knowledge of the changes in magnitude and tail behavior of the extremes shall be helpful while planning the water resources-related projects in Bhakra Catchment.