Characteristics of Extreme Rainfall Events in North Sumatra

Abstract

Extreme rain is an event that has an impact on various sectors of life. Therefore, this study aims to determine the spatial and temporal characteristics of extreme rain events in North Sumatra Province in the time period between 1991-2020. In accordance with the WMO recommended rain index, the frequency and intensity of rain were calculated using 50 rain stations spread across North Sumatra where the data had passed the quality control test for empty data. Spatial patterns were analyzed by mapping the climatological mean of the indices then for trend patterns were tested using the Mann-Kendal non-parametric test. The results showed that extreme rainfall events with low frequency and intensity occurred on the east coast while high frequency and intensity occurred in mountainous areas. Based on the temporal trend test, it shows that in general an insignificant trend dominates in this area. Significant and consistently increasing trends are only found at several points, namely in the districts of Deli Serdang (5 station), Batu Bara (1 station), Humbang Hasundutan (1 station), Langkat (2 station), Labuhan Batu Utara (1 station), Medan (1 station), Pematang Siantar (1 station) and Serdang Bedagai (1 station). Meanwhile, a significant and consistently decreasing trend was found in Asahan Regency (1 station), Simalungun (2 station), North Tapanuli (1 station), and North Labuhan Batu (1 station).

Keywords

• spatial and temporal characteristics, extreme rainfall, north sumatra