Two measures of rainfall intensity distribution, called RIP (rainfall
intensity percentage) and WMRIP (weighted mean rainfall intensity perc
entage), were described in this study. RIP and WMRIP values for Ben Hu
r Research Farm, Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 1981 through 1988 were ca
lculated. Daily kinetic energy (KE) of46 daily rainfall events in 1987
was calculated from RIP. The KE calculated from RIP values of 46 even
ts was not significantly different from KE calculated by the standard
breakpoint method. Based on WMRIP values, the rainfall intensity distr
ibution was classified into low-, medium-, and high-intensity periods.