The frequency distribution of the annual maximum (or minimum) values of meteorological elements

Abstract It is shown that the probability P that the annual maximum value of a meteorological element is less than a given value x can be expressed as exp equation image where a and k are constants such that ak is positive. The parameters a and k can be evaluated from data of annual maximum values for a given period of years. Hence we derive the average highest and lowest in sets of T annual maxima, and also the maximum value to be expected once in T years.