Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2181
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2181
19 Jun 2025
 | 19 Jun 2025

A non-stationary trans-Gaussian model for daily rainfall over complex topography

Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca

Abstract. The orographic effects that influence rainfall fields in mountainous regions depend on elevation and the exposure of the topography to prevailing winds. Transitions between wet and dry areas can occur within a few kilometers, creating strong horizontal gradients of various rainfall statistics such as the frequency of occurrence, the distribution of intensity and the structure of spatial correlation.

Most statistical models of daily rainfall assume spatial stationarity (i.e., the spatial homogeneity of rainfall statistics) and are therefore not well suited for studying the highly non-homogeneous characteristics of orographic rainfall. To overcome this limitation, we design a non-stationary trans-Gaussian geostatistical model for the analysis of daily rainfall fields over complex topography.

The modeling framework presented in this paper infers rainfall statistics from sparse rain gauge observations, simulates realistic rainfall fields after calibration and stochastically interpolates rain gauge observations to create rainfall maps. The performance of the model is assessed with data from the Island of Hawai‘i where extreme spatial gradients in rainfall are observed. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that a non-stationary trans-Gaussian model can skillfully reproduce orographic rainfall statistics as well as their variations in space.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Jul 2026
A non-stationary trans-Gaussian model for daily rainfall over complex topography
Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 4799–4822, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4799-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4799-2026, 2026
Short summary
Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Sep 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #2, 17 Sep 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #3, 19 Sep 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC3', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (20 Oct 2025) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (05 Dec 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (09 Dec 2025) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (19 Dec 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (15 Jan 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 Jan 2026)
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (26 Jan 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (06 Mar 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (10 Mar 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (24 Apr 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (18 May 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (29 May 2026)
ED: Publish as is (01 Jun 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (04 Jun 2026)  Manuscript 

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Sep 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #2, 17 Sep 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2181', Anonymous Referee #3, 19 Sep 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC3', Lionel Benoit, 17 Oct 2025

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (20 Oct 2025) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (05 Dec 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (09 Dec 2025) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (19 Dec 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (15 Jan 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 Jan 2026)
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (26 Jan 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (06 Mar 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (10 Mar 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (24 Apr 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (18 May 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (29 May 2026)
ED: Publish as is (01 Jun 2026) by Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
AR by Lionel Benoit on behalf of the Authors (04 Jun 2026)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Jul 2026
A non-stationary trans-Gaussian model for daily rainfall over complex topography
Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 4799–4822, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4799-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4799-2026, 2026
Short summary
Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca

Model code and software

StochasticRainfallModel_Orography Lionel Benoit https://github.com/LionelBenoit/StochasticRainfallModel_Orography

Lionel Benoit, Matthew P. Lucas, Denis Allard, Keri M. Kodama, and Thomas W. Giambelluca

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Short summary
In mountainous regions the interactions between topography and prevailing winds generate orographic effects, which modulate rainfall occurrence and intensity depending on slope exposure, finally creating strong rainfall gradients. This study introduces a geostatistical model dedicated to rainfall mapping in mountainous areas, which therefore explicitly account for possible orographic effects.
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