Entropy-Based Parameter Estimation for the Four-Parameter Exponential Gamma Distribution

Abstract

Two methods based on the principle of maximum entropy (POME), the ordinary entropy method (ENT) and the parameter space expansion method (PSEM), are developed for estimating the parameters of a four-parameter exponential gamma distribution. Using six data sets for annual precipitation at the Weihe River basin in China, the PSEM was applied for estimating parameters for the four-parameter exponential gamma distribution and was compared to the methods of moments (MOM) and of maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). It is shown that PSEM enables the four-parameter exponential distribution to fit the data well, and can further improve the estimation.

Keywords

• four-parameter exponential gamma distribution
• principle of maximum entropy
• precipitation frequency analysis
• methods of moments
• maximum likelihood estimation