Minimum Rainfall Inter-Event Time to Separate Rainfall Events in a Low Latitude Semi-Arid Environment

Water scarcity in dry tropical regions is expected to intensify due climate change. Characterization of rainfall events needed for a better assessment the associated hydrological processes, and proposition adaptation strategies. There still no consensus on most appropriate method separate from continuous database, although minimum inter-event time (MIET) commonly used criterion. Semi-arid low latitudes hold distinct pattern compared their equivalent at higher latitudes; these seasonally forests experience strong spatial–temporal variability with intense short-duration events, which, association high energy surplus potential evaporation, leads an atmospheric water deficit. In this study, we identified adequate MIET based data continuously measured 5-min intervals over last decade (2009–2020) semi-arid northeast Brazil. The were grouped according different MIETs: 15 min, 1 h, 2 3 6 12 24 h determine depth, duration intensity 5, 30, 60 between respective temporal distribution, without single tip events. Including dataset affected number characteristics up h. A characterize distribution region. Three classes defined duration, intensity: I-small (77% below 40 mm 32 mm/h), II-high (3% 36 76 III-longer depth (20%). This study useful understanding how relates other ecohydrological processes provides more precise information event scale.