On an extreme winter minimum temperature study in Catalonia, North-East Spain

Revised results from an extreme winter minimum temperature study in Catalon ia (NE Spain) are presented. The Jenkinson formulation is applied assuming several alternatives. First, data is ranked from the least to the most extr eme or from low to high values. Second, parameters of the Jenkinson formula tion are estimated by means of likelihood analysis and usual least square c riteria. As a general feature the revised results suggest that both the ran king options and the estimation procedures should lead to the same predicti on of extreme temperatures when data quality is good enough. Predicted extr eme temperatures for Catalonia, according the least square criteria, were s lightly lower than those derived by means of likelihood procedure. Neverthe less, only marked discrepancies are detected for two thermometric gauges be longing to the Central Basin of Catalonia and for return periods of 5, 10 a nd 25 years. Copyright (C) 1999 Royal Meteorological Society.