TOWARDS A CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL RAINFALL STATIONS

As part of a long-term project examining short-period tropical rainfall characteristics, a preliminary classification of stations for a wide range of localities based on such characteristics is presented. The approach adopted, using principal component analysis and a clustering procedure, functioned well and the resulting classification would not have been anticipated simply by using general annual and seasonal variables alone. Interpretation of the components allowed the important characteristics of each group of stations to be described. Although the stations used did not represent every region of the tropics, the range of groups with a wide variety of characteristics suggests that they are indicative of conditions applicable to many areas. Although the data base was for varying periods and record lengths, it appeared to be adequate for the purpose of the analysis.