The isozones rain disaggregation methodology was validated and used in this study for the development of IDF (Intensity-Duration-Frequency) equations for three municipalities in the Cariri Metropolitan Region - Ceará, devoid of recording rain gauges. For the validation, data from stations located in different climate regions of the Cariri Metropolitan Region, and from one station in the same climate region was used. To develop the IDF equations, annual daily maximum rainfall data were used, which were adjusted and tested according to Gumbel, Log-Normal II-P, Log-Normal III-P, Gama II-P e Gama III-P probability distributions. The rainfall intensity estimated by the isozones method presented high Willmott indexes, when compared to the amount estimated by the respective IDF equations. The maximum annual daily rainfall used in the application of the isozones method, adjusted respectively to the Gamma III, Normal-Log II and Gamma II. However, it was verified that other functions may be used without significant loss to the precision of the estimates. These results indicate the viability of using this method as an alternative to elaborate IDF equations for regions not monitored and without records of rainfall.
intense rains; isozones; disaggregation; probability distribution
