Spatial distribution of the daily precipitation concentration index in Algeria

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, the spatial and temporal distribution of the daily precipitation concentration index (CI) in Algeria (South Mediterranean Sea) has been assessed. Forty-two daily rainfall series based on high quality and fairly regular rainfall records for the period from 1970 to 2008 were used. The daily precipitation concentration index results allowed identifying three climatic zones: the northern country, characterized by coastal regions with CI values between 0.59 and 0.63, the highlands, with values between 0.57 and 0.62 (average of 0.61), except for the area of Biskra (CI = 0.70), and the southern region of the country, with high rainfall concentrations, with values between 0.62 and 0.69. CI is an index related to the rainfall intensity and erosive capacity; therefore, this index has great interest for studies on torrential rainfall and floods.