Régionalisation du régime des précipitations dans la région des Bois-francs et de l'Estrie par l'analyse en composantes principales

A definition of homogeneous regions in terms of precipitation regime is achieved by the use of principal component analysis (PCA). The method has been shown to be a reliable regionalization tool even though it was applied to a territory showing rather complex physiography and high precipitation variation. Results based on the application of the PCA to the interstation correlation matrix of precipitation have indicated four distinct homogeneous regions. These regional patterns can be explained by the orographic effect and by the circulation of air masses within the study region.Key words: homogeneous regions, rainfall, principal component analysis, orographic effect.