Temporal and spatial variation of annual rainfall on the island of Crete, GreeceTemporal and spatial variation of annual rainfall on the island of Crete, Greece Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-092003enAnnual rainfall records from the island of Crete in Greece were used with the aid of a geographical information system (GIS) to study the temporal and spatial rainfall characteristics. The GIS was used to produce a digital elevation model, delineate watersheds and estimate the areal rainfall from a network of raingauges by using different interpolation schemes. The rainfall–elevation correlation was significant, suggesting an orographic type of precipitation for the island. The rainfall records for the majority of the stations were found to fit the normal distribution. Deviation from normal for the rest of the records was attributed to the wettest year of 1977–1978. The year 1989–1990 was the driest, and most rainfall records showed a decrease in rainfall over 30 years with higher negative rainfall gradients at the higher elevations. Frequency analysis of the rainfall records was used to estimate areal rainfall for the island of Crete and its main watersheds for return periods of 2, 5 and 10 years.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Hydrological Processes10171899-1922 Tsanis Giannis Τσανης Γιαννης S. Naoum John Wiley and Sons Forecasting, Weather Short range weather forecasting Weather--Forecasting Weather prediction weather forecasting forecasting weather short range weather forecasting weather prediction