How is average rainfall intensity calculated?

The calculation of average rainfall intensity involves determining how much rainfall occurs over a specific duration of time and the context within which that rainfall occurs. To find average rainfall intensity, the total volume of rainfall is divided by the duration of the storm. This method effectively provides a measure of how intense the rainfall is over the specified time period.

By using the total volume of rainfall, which is typically measured in volume units (like gallons or cubic meters), and dividing it by the storm duration (usually expressed in hours or minutes), one can derive rainfall intensity in units such as inches per hour or millimeters per hour. This intensity metric is critical in hydrology for assessing stormwater management and designing drainage systems.

Other options do not yield the correct average rainfall intensity. Measuring storm duration alone does not account for the amount of rainfall, while dividing total volume by area would provide a measure of depth of rain per area but not the intensity over time. Averaging multiple storm events could provide useful data for long-term climate studies but would not accurately represent the intensity of an individual storm event. Thus, dividing total volume by the storm duration is the correct approach to get average rainfall intensity.