%0 Journal Article %T Climatic study of the exponent ˇ°nˇ± in IDF curves: application for the Iberian Peninsula %A R. Moncho %A F. Belda %A V. Caselles %J Tethys : Journal of Mediterranean Meteorology & Climatology %D 2009 %I Associaci¨® Catalana de Meteorologia (ACAM) %X The analysis of maximum precipitation is usually carried out by using IDF curves (Intensity-Duration-Frequency), which in turn could be expressed as MAI curves (Maximum Average Intensities). An index ˇ°nˇ± has been developed in this work, defined from the exponent obtained when adjusting IDF climatic curves to MAI curves. That index provides information about how maximum precipitation is achieved in a certain climatic area, according to the relative temporal distribution of maximum intensities. From the climatic analysis of index ˇ°nˇ±, large areas could be distinguished in the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by rain maxima of a stormier origin (peninsular inland), and areas characterized by rain maxima of a more frontal origin (southwest, Atlantic coast and Mediterranean coast). Additionally, these areas could be more specifically divided according to the persistence of maximum precipitation. %K precipitation intensity %K IDF curves %K MAI curves %K regularity index %U http://www.tethys.cat/sites/default/files/pdf/articles/6tethys-01-eng.pdf