Regional Conditions for Maximum Probable Discharge in Poland’s Rivers

The purpose of this study was to obtain and verify the methods of catchment regionalization for annual maximum discharge. An identification of Polish rivers was performed based on regional frequency analyses including recognition of regions homogeneous with respect to their physical properties and river flow parameters. The results suggest a division into two regional groups: mountain and lowland catchments. Statistical tests verify the regionalization obtained and allow to calculate regional probability curves for these two catchment groups. The results obtained may be helpful in the analysis of floods in ungauged catchments and in those where hydrological observations were performed during a short period, especially when the dependence of the maximum probable flows on their physico-geographical features in catchments under analysis has been proved.