Precipitation analysis with R-Climdex and RH test V4, for the ESPOCH weather station, Riobamba-Ecuador, in the period 1976-2017

Luis Miguel Santillan Quiroga^1,2, Daniele Cocca¹ & Juan Carlos Caicedo Ballesteros^3
1Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino. Via Valperga Caluso 35, Torino, Italy. ²Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Ciencias Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador. ³Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo. Ambiente Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador.
Corresponding author e-mail: luismiguel.santillanquiroga@unito.it

According to recent studies, rainfall in the Chimborazo area has changed in recent decades. The variability of precipitation in Riobamba, a city in the province, was determined from 1976 to 2017. The goal is to demonstrate the change in pluviometric regime using two easily accessible tools, the R-Clindex software, and the RH testV4 tool, using precipitation records from the ESPOCH weather station during a 42-year period. These values were validated and homogenized using statistical methods to fill in missing data. To determine the variability, 11 indices of climatic extremes were calculated in the R-Climdex software, of which R10mm indicated an increase in days with high rainfall, R99p an increase in precipitation of 7mm per decade, RX1day and RX5day indicated increases of 4mm per decade in the rainiest days of the year, while SDII determined increases in rainfall intensity. These indices show the rapid change in rainfall behavior that has occurred over the last 42 years in Riobamba and has been recorded by the said station. The premise evidences the need to continue more relevant studies in the area, using more tools and more stations. Expand the objectives of hydrogeographic studies in the area.

precipitation, ESPOCH weather station, Ecuador.