HYDROLOGY

CHAPTER 2
PRECIPITATION
 NETWORK DENSITY
◦ In flat regions of temperate, Mediterranean and
tropical zone
Ideal – 1 station for 600 – 900 km2
Acceptable – 1 station for 900 – 3000 km2
◦ In mountainous regions of temperate,
Mediterranean and tropical zones
Ideal – 1 station for 100 – 250 km2
Acceptable – 1 station for 25 – 1000 km2
◦ In arid and polar zones: 1 station for 1500 –
10000 km2 depending on visibility.

2.6 RAIN GAUGE NETWORK



ADEQUACY OF RAINGAUGE
STATIONS


ADEQUACY OF RAINGAUGE
STATIONS
2. A catchment has six rain gauge stations. In a year,
the annual rainfall recorded by the gauges are as
follows:
Station A B C D E F
Rainfall 82.6 102.9 180.3 110.3 98.8 136.7
(cm)
a. Determine the standard error in the estimation of
mean rainfall in the existing set of rain gauges.
b. For a 10% error in the estimation of the mean
rainfall, calculate the optimum number of rain
gauge stations in the catchment.

SAMPLE PROBLEM


2.7 PREPARATION OF DATA

3. In a certain year the total rainfall of
station A is 75 cm and for the
neighbouring station B, there is no
record. But if the average annual rainfall
at A and B are 70 cm and 80 cm
respectively, determine the missing
year’s rainfall at B.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
4. The normal annual rainfall at stations A,
B, C and D in a basin are 80.97, 67.59,
79.28, 92.01 cm respectively. In the
year 1985, the station D was inoperative
and the stations A, B and C are recorded
annual precipitation of 91.11, 72.23, and
79.89 cm respectively. Estimate the
rainfall at station D in that year.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 )

 C:\Users\Monique\Desktop\DOCS2016.AC
CRE\DOUBLEMASS.xls

TEST OF CONSISTENCY OF
RECORD
MASS CURVE OF RAINFALL

2.8 PRESENTATION OF RAINFALL

DATA
 )

HYETOGRAPH
 )

POINT RAINFALL
 )

Moving Average
 )

YEAR ANNUAL Three Consecutive 3 – year moving

RAINFALL, mm total for moving mean
mean

1950 676
1951 578 676 + 578 + 95 = 449.67
1349
1952 95 578 + 95 + 462 = 378.33
1135
1953 462 95 + 462 + 472 = 343.00
1029
1954 472 462 + 472 + 699 = 544.33
1633
1955 699 472 + 699 +479 = 550.00
1650
1956 479 699 + 479 + 431 = 536.33
1609
1957 431 479 + 431 + 493 = 467.67
1403
1958 493 431 + 493 + 503 = 475.67
1427
1959 503 493 + 503 + 415 = 470.33
1411
1960 415

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 )

2.9 MEAN PRECIPITATION OVER

AN AREA
6. Determine the average precipitation over
the area using arithmetic method.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 )

 THIESSEN – MEAN METHOD

2.9 MEAN PRECIPITATION OVER

AN AREA
 )

2.9 MEAN PRECIPITATION OVER

AN AREA
7. The area shown in the figure is composed of a square plus an
equilateral triangular plot of side 10 km. The annual
precipitations at the rain gauge stations located at the four
corners and centre of the square plot and apex of the triangular
plot are indicated. Find the mean precipitation over the area by
Thiessen polygon method.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 )

 ISOHYETAL METHOD

2.9 MEAN PRECIPITATION OVER

AN AREA
SAMPLE PROBLEM
8. Determine the mean precipitation over
the area by Isohyetal Method.

Zone Isohyets, Mean Area

cm Isohyetal between
value, cm isohyets,
km2
I ˂6 5.4 410
II 6–8 7 900
III 8 – 10 9 2350
IV 10 – 12 11 1750
V ˃12 12.8 720
VI ˂8 7.5 550

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 )

Duration K N
1 day 0.0008526 0.6614
2 days 0.0009877 0.6306
3 days 0.001745 0.5961

2.10 DEPTH – AREA – DURATION

RELATIONSHIPS
 )

 MAXIMUM DEPTH – AREA DURATION CURVES

2.10 DEPTH – AREA – DURATION

RELATIONSHIPS
9. The data from an isohyetal map of a 24 – hr
storm is given below. Assuming that the storm
centre had an area of 55 km2 and the rainfall
depth is 57 cm in the storm centre, obtain the
depth – area curve of this storm. Using the
depth – area curve, estimate the average depth
of rainfall over an area of 3200 km2. It can be
assumed that the storm centre is located at the
centre of the area.
Isohyet, 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10
mm
Enclosed 310 1300 2060 2700 2955 3600 4030 4800 6000
Area,
km2

SAMPLE PROBLEM
9. (Computation)

SAMPLE PROBLEM