CLIMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EXTREME PRECIPITATION INDICES IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Knowing the climatological factors related to extreme rainfall events on a regional scale is essential for risk management and decision-making. In this sense, this study evaluates the temporal behavior and spatial distribution of extreme rainfall in the city of Rio de Janeiro between October and April (the so-called rainy season). Six extreme precipitation indices were also used to evaluate possible changes in precipitation behavior in the region using 28 rain gauges from the Alerta Rio System between 1997 and 2021, a period with dates available in the System. Average rainfall totals between October and April on the windward side of the massifs reach 1000-1100 mm, compared to 800-900 mm inland. The proximity to the ocean also showed an importance in the rainfall variability, considering the frequency of days with precipitation above 30 mm, which was higher on the coast. On the other side, verifying the importance of controlling the behavior of rainfall records in 1 day and 5 consecutive days was possible. The overall aspects showed that each neighborhood in the municipality is impacted differently by severe precipitation, corroborating the importance of local knowledge for preventive measures and risk reduction.