7 Hydrograph
7 Hydrograph
7 Hydrograph
Re
limb
lF o
ce
ssi
Overland
Rising
on
2
Discharge (m3/s)
flow
lim
mm
b
4 Inter flow
1 3
2
Base flow
0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
Hydrograph-Definitions
Lag Time
Time interval from the center of mass of the rainfall-excess to the peak of
the resultant hydrograph.
Time to Peak
Time interval from the start of the rainfall-excess to the peak of the
resultant hydrograph.
Rainfall Duration
Time interval from the start to the end of rainfall-excess.
Time of Concentration
Time interval from the end of the rainfall-excess to the point of inflection
on the hydrograph recession curve or
Time required for runoff to travel from the hydraulically most distant point
on the watershed to the point of interest.
Components of Hydrograph
Components of Hydrograph
A hydrograph normally consists of the four
components:
• Channel Precipitation.
• Direct Runoff (DRO).
• Inter Flow or Sub-surface Flow.
• Ground or Base Flow.
Hydrograph Analysis (Separation of hydrograph into
its components)
A. Storm Characteristics
a. Intensity of Rainfall
The intensity of rainfall has a predominant effect
on the shape of the hydrograph. If other
conditions remain the same, a higher intensity
storm will produce a rapid rise in the hydrograph
and a higher peak than that in case of a low
intensity rainfall. Such floods give little warning
time and so are dangerous.
Factors Affecting Hydrograph Shape (cont.)
b. Duration of Rainfall
The duration of rainfall is important if it is greater than the time
of concentration (defined as the time of travel from the
farthest point in the catchment area to the gauging station). In
such a situation, if the rainfall of certain intensity occurs
uniformly, the whole of the catchment area is contributing
runoff at the gauging station and the hydrograph attains its high
peak. The runoff will remain constant at the peak rate if the
rainfall occurs for duration longer than the time of
concentration. If rainfall of the same intensity occurs for
duration less than the time of concentration, the hydrograph
will rise to a smaller peak.
Factors Affecting Hydrograph Shape (cont.)
c. Weather
The shape of the hydrograph greatly depends on the
seasonal distribution of rainfall. During summer losses
due to evaporation may produce a small peak
hydrograph. On the other hand, in winter, losses are
small with the result that even a small intensity storm
may produce a relatively rapid rise and high peak of
the hydrograph. Antecedent soil moisture conditions
(generally being higher in winter) are important as for
high soil moisture; the storm will produce more runoff.
Factors Affecting Hydrograph Shape (cont.)
B. Catchment Characteristics
a. Size of Catchment
The catchment area affects the stream-flow in a variety of ways. Even
if the intensity and depth of precipitation is assumed to be constant,
the hydrograph of a smaller catchment rises to its peak and then
recedes more rapidly than that for a larger catchment, because for
the latter, it takes longer for the runoff to reach the gauging station.
The hydrograph of a larger catchment area, therefore, has broader
base than that of a smaller one. Moreover, the larger the area, the
greater will be the heterogeneity in soil and vegetation cover, with a
consequent effect on the stream-flow of each part of the catchment.
The vegetation cover increases the time of concentration.
Factors Affecting Hydrograph Shape (cont.)
d. Catchment Slope
The slope of the catchment affects stream-flow by
reducing the rate of infiltration due to increased
speed of water-movement towards drainage
channels. The steeper the slope, the faster will be
the flow and rise in the hydrograph. The
hydrograph in such a situation will have higher
peak and smaller base.
Estimating Rate of Runoff
While designing hydraulic structures, we are mostly interested in
estimating maximum probable rate of runoff. Various methods of
estimating maximum probable rate of runoff are as under:
a. Frequency Analysis: The purpose of frequency analysis is to estimate
frequency of occurrence of various hydrologic parameters such as
floods, droughts, or storms of maximum rainfall.
Frequency Analysis is based on statistical methods. Using statistical
techniques, hydrologic parameters are predicted from available record
of data,. Using these parameters, the data is extrapolated for future
forecasting.
An objective of frequency analysis may be the estimation of maximum
possible discharge of a stream or river that will be encountered after a
certain time period. Such information is required for design of hydraulic
structures (dams, barrages, culverts, bridges, etc.), reservoirs, floodways,
irrigation systems, river improvement works, flood protection schemes
and development of water resources.
Estimating Rate of Runoff (cont)
b. Empirical Formulae: Involving various physical
characteristics of the basin
i.e. Q = C I A (Rational Formula)
Where,I = Intensity of rainfall,
C = Constant, and
A = Area of cross-section
Very detailed rainfall-runoff models have been
developed which estimate losses separately and
hence calculate the direct runoff.
Estimating Rate of Runoff (cont)
c. Flood Routing: Flood Routing is an analytical technique of
determining the flood hydrograph at a particular location in a
channel or a reservoir resulting from a known flood at some
other location upstream. Different techniques have been
developed to route the flood. These are Hydraulic Routing and
Hydrologic Routing. Hydraulic Routing is based on equations of
continuity and momentum whereas Hydrologic Routing is
based on the equation of continuity and an empirical equation.
d. Unit Hydrograph Method: Of the four methods of estimating
maximum probable rate of runoff, the unit hydrograph method
is being discussed in detail here.
Unit Hydrograph
The T-hour unit hydrograph may be defined as a
hydrograph of direct runoff resulting from unit rainfall-
excess of a duration ‘T’ hours having occurred uniformly
all over the catchment and having a constant rate of
occurrences.
Physical characteristics of the basin remain relatively
constant. The variable characteristics of the storm cause
variation in the shape of resulting hydrograph. The storm
characteristics as discussed earlier are the rainfall
duration, time-intensity pattern, areal distribution of
rainfall and the amount of rainfall.
Unit Hydrograph
a. Rainfall Duration
The volume under unit hydrograph is always the same for a given catchment
and is equal to one unit, say one inch of runoff ( note that volume of one inch
of runoff means that one inch of rainfall excess over the whole catchment. The
actual volume will be the catchment area multiplied by one ). Peak value for a
lesser duration unit hydrograph is higher and is sharp, but the peak value for a
higher duration unit hydrograph is lower with larger base length.
b. Time Intensity Pattern
An infinite number of hydrographs would be required if an attempt is made to
draw separate unit hydrograph for each of the possible time-intensity patterns.
Practically the unit hydrograph may be based only on an assumption of
uniform intensity.
Higher-intensity storms will have higher peak with low base, and vice versa.
Unit Hydrograph
c. Areal Distribution of Rainfall
The unit hydrograph is based upon uniformly
distributed rainfall over whole of the catchment.
So the actual flood hydrograph has to be estimated
accordingly from the unit hydrograph taking into
account the effect of areal distribution of rainfall.
Derivation of Unit Hydrograph
The following steps are followed in deriving a unit
hydrograph:
• Select an isolated storm, for which reliable rainfall and
runoff data are available.
• Separate the base flow from the total runoff
hydrograph and calculate the volume of direct runoff.
• Divide the ordinates of direct runoff by the effective
rainfall. The resulting hydrograph is a unit hydrograph
for the catchment area for the given duration of
rainfall-excess.
Derivation of Unit Hydrograph
A unit hydrograph derived from a single storm may
have some error, and it is desirable to average the
unit hydrograph from several storms of the same
duration.
The proper procedure is to compute the average of
the peak flows and time to peak. The average unit
hydrograph is then sketched to conform to those
of the other graphs, passing through the computed
average peak, and having a volume of one-inch.
Example
From the data given in Table below, derive a 6-hour unit hydrograph, if
this data is obtained from a six-hour duration storm and the catchment
area is 3,200 square kilometers.
Date Time Discharge Base Flow
(day) (m³/s) (m³/s)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
11-Jan 1st 21 21
12-Jan 2nd 21 21
13-Jan 3rd 21 21
14-Jan 4th 20 20
15-Jan 5th 20 20
16-Jan 6th 20 20
17-Jan 7th 20 20
18-Jan 8th 20 20
19-Jan 9th 521 11
20-Jan 10th 160 21
21-Jan 11th 82 29
22-Jan 12th 63 35
23-Jan 13th 59 47
24-Jan 14th 53 53
25-Jan 15th 47 47
26-Jan 16th 45 45
27-Jan 17th 38 38
Example (cont.)
Solution:
The calculations are shown in Table below. The
Direct Runoff (DRO) is obtained by subtracting base
flow from discharge values. The DRO is then
multiplied by time interval to get total volume. This
total volume is divided by catchment area to get
depth of effective rainfall in centimeters spread
uniformly over whole catchment. By definition of
unit hydrograph, its ordinates are obtained by
dividing ordinates of DRO by effective rain.
Example (cont.)
Date Time Discharge Base Flow DRO Volume Ordinates of Unit
(day) (m³/s) (m³/s) (m³/s) (x106 m³) Hydrograph
(m³/s)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)=(3)-(4) (6) (7)=(5)/Eff. Rain
11-Jan 1st 21 21 0 0.00 0.00
12-Jan 2nd 21 21 0 0.00 0.00
13-Jan 3rd 21 21 0 0.00 0.00
14-Jan 4th 20 20 0 0.00 0.00
15-Jan 5th 20 20 0 0.00 0.00
16-Jan 6th 20 20 0 0.00 0.00
17-Jan 7th 20 20 0 0.00 0.00
18-Jan 8th 20 20 0 0.00 0.00
19-Jan 9th 521 11 510 44.06 255.00
20-Jan 10th 160 21 139 12.01 69.50
21-Jan 11th 82 29 53 4.58 26.50
22-Jan 12th 63 35 28 2.42 14.00
23-Jan 13th 59 47 12 1.04 6.00
24-Jan 14th 53 53 0 0.00 0.00
25-Jan 15th 47 47 0 0.00 0.00
26-Jan 16th 45 45 0 0.00 0.00
27-Jan 17th 38 38 0 0.00 0.00
Total Volume 64.11 x106 m³
Area 3200 x106 m² Volume 32.05x106 m³
Effective Rain 2.00cm Effective Rain 1.00 cm
Derivation of Hydrograph from a Unit
Hydrograph
Once the unit hydrograph of certain duration is determined,
it can be used to compute a hydrograph of the same
duration. In order to derive the hydrograph of same
duration as that of the unit hydrograph, we have to proceed
in reverse to the process used to derive unit hydrograph.
The procedure will be as follows:
o The unit hydrograph of a certain duration is given.
o Derive the ordinates of direct runoff hydrograph by
multiplying the unit hydrograph ordinates by effective
rainfall.
o Add base flow to the ordinates of direct runoff hydrograph
to get total runoff hydrograph. The peak of this hydrograph
gives the maximum flow due to the storm.
Example
Given the unit hydrograph of 4-hour duration, calculate the ordinates of
total runoff hydrograph of same duration from an excess precipitation of
10 cm. Assume constant Base Flow of 14 m3/sec.
1-Jan 0 0.00 0 14 14
24 12 3.00 30 14 44
2-Jan 24 17.00 170 14 184
24 48 34.00 340 14 354
3-Jan 60 51.00 510 14 524
24 72 17.00 170 14 184
4-Jan 84 6.00 60 14 74
24 96 0.00 0 14 14
Example (cont.)
S Curve
0 0 0
2 95 0 95
4 164 95 0 259
6 121 164 95 0 380
8 91 121 164 95 0 471
10 54 91 121 164 95 0 525
12 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
14 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
16 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
18 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
20 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
22 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
24 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 0 543
26 0 18 54 91 121 164 95 543
28 0 18 54 91 121 164
30 0 18 54 91 121
32 0 18 54 91
34 0 18 54
36 0 18
38 0
Example (cont.)
Derivation of Any Duration Unit Hydrograph
Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
0 1 0 0
1 2 200 0 200
2 3 400 240 640
3 4 1000 480 1480
4 5 2800 1200 4000
5 6 1400 3360 4760
6 7 900 1680 2580
7 8 700 1080 1780
8 9 480 840 1320
9 10 200 576 776
10 11 0 240 240
11 12 0 0
Example (cont.)
Example
Develop a complex hydrograph for the following data given below,
Take R1 / R2 = 1.2 and R1 / R3 = 1.5
Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11