Spatial Analysis of Rainfall in Kelantan River Basin

This study investigates the spatial distribution of rainfall in the Kelantan River Basin, a region prone to significant flooding and landslides during the monsoon season. The problem addressed is the recurrent and severe flooding in the basin, which poses substantial risks to the local population and infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to analyse the spatial patterns of rainfall to predict flood mitigation strategies and support sustainable development. This study employed four spatial interpolation methods, namely the Inverse Distance Weighting, Ordinary Kriging, Thiessen Polygon, and Universal Kriging, to estimate rainfall distribution using data from 10 rainfall stations over 30 years. The rainfall characteristics of this study showed that the Kelantan River Basin receives higher rainfall distribution at the end of the year due to the Northeast Monsoon (NEM) season. Spatial analysis results indicated that north region areas such as Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Tanah Merah and Mardi Jeram Pasu receive higher annual mean rainfall ranging from 2,996 mm to 3,519 mm, identifying these as critical zones for flood risk. This result is related to the location of the north regions of the Kelantan River Basin that the Tahan Ranges did not cover, making them receive direct wind during the monsoon season. Among the flood mitigation methods assessed, enhancing early warning systems, implementing sustainable land-use planning, and constructing resilient infrastructure were identified as Kelantan’s most effective strategies for mitigating flood impacts. The significance of this study lies in its ability to provide detailed spatial insights into rainfall patterns, which are crucial for water resource management, flood risk assessment, and infrastructure development.