Efficiency of Gumbel analyses for determining extreme daily precipitation in Switzerland

Gumbel analyses were carried out on rainfall time-series at 151 locations in Switzerland for 4 different periods of 30 years in order to estimate daily extreme precipitation for a return period of 100 years. Those estimations were compared with maximal daily values measured during the last 100 years (1911-2010) to test the efficiency of these analyses. This comparison shows that these analyses provide good results for 50 to 60% locations in this country from rainfall time-series 1961-1990 and 1980-2010. On the other hand, daily precipitation with a return period of 100 years is underestimated at most locations from time-series 1931-1960 and especially 1911-1940. Such underestimation results from the increase of maximal daily precipitation recorded from 1911 to 2010 at 90% locations in Switzerland.

Subjective theories of gynaecologists discussing sexuality in consultations

Objectives: This study aims to explore subjectives theories (Flick, 1991) concerning sexualityamong gynaecologists. Methods: We conducted 27 deepened semi-structured interviews withmen and women gynaecologists, in the French part of Switzerland. A thematic contentanalysis was applied to the entire corpus. Results: We observe that discourse on sexualityissues can be source of discomfort during consultation with patients. Our analysis highlightsdisparities among levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices in gynaecologists. We observedthat their knowledges on sexuality seem to be constructed mainly on a profane knowledgebased on the common sense and/or their personal experiences. Furthermore, our findingsshow sex differences among physicians, especially on theoretical perspectives underlying theirdiscourse, and the time they allow themselves to spend with a patient. Conclusion: Nowadays,gynaecologists come across sexuality issues that go beyond anatomical and physiologicalconsiderations and for which they are not necessarily qualified. Our research suggests toanalyse both the role and the limits of gynaecologists as well as the motivations guiding theircurrent practice.

The estimation of PMP and PMF on alpine basins in Switzerland

This paper presents a very fine grid hydrological model based on the spatiotemporal repartition of precipitation and on the topography. The goal is to estimate the flood on a catchment area, using a Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) leading to a Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). The spatiotemporal distribution of the precipitation was realized using six clouds modeled by the advection-diffusion equation. The equation shows the movement of the clouds over the terrain and also gives the evolution of the rain intensity in time. This hydrological modeling is followed by a hydraulic modeling of the surface and subterranean flows, done considering the factors that contribute to the hydrological cycle, such as the infiltration, the exfiltration and the snowmelt. This model was applied to several Swiss basins using measured rain, with results showing a good correlation between the simulated and observed flows. This good correlation proves that the model is valid and gives us the confidence that the results can be extrapolated to phenomena of extreme rainfall of PMP type. In this article we present some results obtained using a PMP rainfall and the developed model.