3 Hydrographs

How is it
?
3.1 Hydrographs What is rainfall hyetograph
rainfall mass curve ?
derived from a given
Q.1 What is hydrograph ? Explain JNTU: June-13
JNTU:June-12 Ans.: Rainfall hyetograph
Ans.: Hydrograph:
1) A graph showing the variation of rainfall intensity
1) A hydrograph is the graphical representation of the against time is called rainfall hyetograph.
discharge flowing in a river at the given location ) A graph showing the cumulative depth of rainfalI
with specific time.
against time is called as rainfall mass curve.
2) A hydrograph is capable of representing discharge ii) The data on the rainfall mass curve corresponds to
fluctuation in the river at a given site over given the values obtained from the float type recording
time period.
rain gauge.

3)Hydrograph gives us the peak flow, which is

important for design of Hydraulic structure.
Peak low
sp
Rising
curve of
the
Recessional curve
hydrograph of the hydrograph Ap

Time (hr)-

Time (in sec) Fig. Q.2.1

Fig. Q.1.1 iv) The difference in ordinates of rainfall mass curve

are
Components of Hydrograph:
AP (P-P,) and At=(,-t)
i) Rising limb
i) Falling limb
The slope of tangent drawn to the rainfall mass
curve at
any particular point provides the
ii) Crest segment instantaneous rainfall intensity at that
particular
iv) Inflection point time.
v Crest .L LA
At-0 At dt
(3-1)
Hydrology and Water Resources Englineering (3-2)
Hydrographs
Q.3 Explain flood hydrograph and what are the Ans.
Ans.:
different factors affecting flood hydrograph
7 1) The runoff hydrograph is a smooth curve known as
UNTU: March-17, Marks 3 the base flow recession curve.
Ans.: Factors affecting
flood hydrograph: 2) In
Flood hydrograph shows stream flow due to
semilogarithmatic plot of the recession curve
a

storm over a catchment.

a with ton x axis and
discharge on y axis and it takes
the form of a straight line.
The factor that affects the shape of the hydrograph 3) Base flow is given by,
are dt

1) Shape and size of basin

Q Qoe
Where, Qo = Base flow at time t

2) Nature of the valley

Q = Base flow at any later time ' t
3) Density of drainage
a = Arecession constant
4) Infiltration characteristic
A
5) Channel characteristics Recession cun of
-2 blood hydrograph
6) Climatic factors
Generally the rising limb is affected by the climatic
factors and recession limb is affected by the
physiographic factor.
Flood hydrograph Surface runoff
recession curve
The hydrograph which results due to an isolated
storm is typically single-peaked skew distribution of Time (in days t)
discharge and is known as flood hydrograph.
Lag time TL
Fig. Q.4.1
4) The recession curve of direct runoff may be
estimated from the equation,
At
Qt+At)- qt
Qp
D
3.2 Effective Rainfall
Q.5 What is mean by effective rainfall ?
Ans.
- Ps-
I t is that part of the rainfall which becomes the
Flg. Q.3.1 direct runoff at the outlet of the catchment.
It ther
Describe how the recession constants of can be defined that rainfall which is
Q.4 as ne
retained on the
direct runoff and base flow curves are land surface nor infiltrated in
obtained from a semilogarithmatic plot. soil.

JNTU: Dec.-11 There is hyetograph of a storm, the initial loss anc

infiltration loss are subtracted from it.

TGCHNCAL RU0UOLTI
 Hydrographs

Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering

(3-3) runoff is difficuit

Rainfall excess B, marking the end of direct is the

Point which
comparison
to point A,
1Ocate in
runott.
of surface
marking of beginning B
the point
An empirical cquation is used for locating
0.2
N 0.83A
B.
N =
Time interval in between peak and
Losses (in days)
2
A = Drainage area (in km )
Time (hours)
Fig. Q.5.1:Effective Rainfall Hyetograph (ERH) Method 2 :
to
.The resulting hyetograph is known as effective I n this method the base flow
curve existing prior
surface runoff is
rainfall hyetograph (ERH). It is also known as the commencement of the
excess rainfall hyetograph. drawn at the
extended till it interests the ordinate
Effective rainfall = Direct runoff volume peak (point C).
Area of catchment
line.
This point is joined to point B by a straignt
3.3 Base Flow Separation Segment AC and CB differentiate the base flow and
surface runoff.
a.6 Describe base fiow separation.
Ans. In many hydrograph analysisa Peak N days
relationship between the surface flow and effective
rainfall is to be established so that base flow is to be
deducted from the total storm hydrograph to obtain the
surface flow hydrograph.
There are many method of base flow separation
three of them are commonly used.
Method 1: Straight line method
n this technique the separation of the base flow is
achieved by joining a straight line from the 2
beginning of the surface runoff of a point on the Time
recession limb representing the end of direct runoff.
Fig. Q.6.2: Base flow separation method
Peak - N days
Method 3
.The base flow recession curve after the
depletion of
the flood water is extended backward till it cuts
the
ordinate at the point of intlection (ordinate at P line
EF).
. Point A and F are joined by an
arbitrary smooth
curve.

. This method is realistic in these situation where the

Time ground water contribution are
Base flow separation method the stream quickly.
significant and reach
Fig. Q.6.1:
TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge
Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering (3-4)
drographs
Peak -N days
Form its definition, the unit pulse function canbebe
seen as the normalized difference
between
ween htwo
P
lagged unit function. Lagged by an amount At.
3.5 Unit Hydrograph
Q.8 Explain unit hydrograph with its
and limitations.
applications
JNTU: Dec.-16,19, March-17,19 Marks 5
Oct.-20, Marks 7
ime
Ans. Definition
Fig. Q.6.3: base flow separation method i) The concept of unit
a
hydrograph initially called
unit graph.
3.4 Unit Pulse and Unit Step Fun ii) A unit
hydrograph is defined as the hydrograph of
Q.7 Derive unit direct runoff resulting from one unit
pulse and unit step function for depth of
rainfall excess occurring uniformly over the
hydrographs. and a uniform rate for a
basin
Ans. specified duration.
The unit here refer to a unit
term
(1) Unit depth of rainfall
step function: excess which is
usually taken as 1 cm.
.This function is the theorotical Applications of unit hydrographs:
counterpart to the
s-Curve
hydrograph concept presented earlier in the It is useful in
study of hydrology of a catchment as,
empirical UH analysis section.
i) In the
developmentof flood
I t represents the hydrograph for
runoff hydrographs from a extreme rainfall magnitude.
continuous effective rainfall of unit
intensity. ) In extension of flood-flow records based
As on
can be seen from its definition. It is the rainfall records.
convolution of I and u(t). and obtained as,
ii) In development of flood forecasting and warning
system based on rainfall.
8)- Ju()dt
0 Limitations of unit hydrograph:
(2) Unit pulse function: i) Unit hydrograph assumes uniform distribution of
rainfall over the catchment and the
This is the theorotical counter part to the UH intensity of
rainfall is assumed constant for the duration of
concept presented earlier.
rainfall excess. In practice these two conditions are
I t represents the runoff hydrograph from a constant never strictly satisfied.
effective rainfall ofintensity and of duration At. il) Unit hydrograph method cannot be used for a
catchment area greater than 5000 km and less
ht)A [s(t)-g(t-AD)] than 2 kmn.

l) Snowmelt runoff cannot be satisfactory

represented by unit hydrograph.
t-At

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS- An up thrust for knowledge

 Hydrographs
Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering (3- 5)
iv) The catchment should not have
large storage
which affects the linear
relationship between AVerage excess rainfall intensity
= 1/D cm/h

storage and discharge.

3.6 Derivation of Unit Hydrograph

Q.9 Explain derivation of unit
hydrograph. S-curve
JNTU: Dec.-16, Marks 10, Dec.-19
Oct.-20, Marks 5
Ans.
For finding the unit hydrograph from the given
flood hydrograph following steps are to be taken.
Step 1: From the given flood hydrograph, separate
(u42)-
the base flow from it and make it direct runoff
hydrograph.
Total storm hydrographs ordinate usUs u1
=
Direct runoff hydrographs ordinate Time (hours)

+Base flow's ordinate. Fig. Q.10.1

Step 2 : Determine the volume of direct runoff It is a curve obtained by summation of an infinite
hydrograph [value of DRH = Area under DRH] series of D-h unit hydrographs spaced D-h apart.
Step 3: Divide the value of direct runoff by the The S-curve due to a D-h unit hydrograph, has an
catchment area, this gives as the rainfall initial step portion and reaches a maximum
equilibrium discharge as a time equal to the base
Rainfall excess= Volume of directrunof
Catchment area period of first unit hydrograph.
So the number of unit
tep 4: divide the ordinate of DRH by the depth of hydrograph required to

rainfall, gives us the ordinate of unit hydrograph. produce S-cufve is =

3.78-Hydrograph Where,
T =
period of first unit hydrograph
Base
Q.10 Explain S-hydrograph.
O Time period of first storm.
JNTU: May-19,Marks 3, Dec.-19,Marks 2 The equilibrium discharge from the S-curve
is
Ans.
I f we want to
develop a unit hydrograph of duration -x10 ma
mD, here m is not an integer, then we can't apply
the method of super position. Here we use S-curve
Q Equilibrium discharge (m 3/h)
A Area of
technique. catchment (km)
D Duration of storm (hr)
The S-curve is a hydrograph
produced by a Alternatively.
continuous rainfall at a constant rate for an infinite
period. It is also known as S-hydrograph. 9, 2.778 mh
TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge
 where,
3.8 SyntheteUnit Hydrograph
Q.11 How to derive
L Length of majn stream in the
synthetic unit hydrograph ? catchment upto gauging Site (in
km
km)
JNTU: March-17, May-19, Marks 5 L =
The distance along the
Ans.: Synthetic unit hydrograph Synder's main
from the gauging site to a stream
Method: point an
stream which is nearest to the athe
To develop unit hydrograph for a catchment, we Cenhtrod
of the basin (in km).
need detailed information about the rainfall and
resulting flood hydrograph. C Regional constant
representing th
watershed slope and storage
Majority of location in world, specially those which (C, vani
are at remote location, the data would normally be from 0.3 to 6)
very scanty. W7s Width or graph in hour at 75 %
of
For those area we construct
the unit hydrograph peak discharge.
with the help of
empinical equation, such a unit
hydrograph is called synthetic unit hydrograph. -Unit rainfall excess
Synder developed a set or empirical - tp

construction of synthetic unit equation for

hydrograph. Which is Qpf-
known as Synder's
synthetic unit
Synder selected three important hydrograph. 0.75 Qp
construction of SOH. parameter for W78W
0.5 Qp--
(1) Base width (T)
T
0.32+3t, (in hour)
(2) Peak discharge
(Q)
Fig. Q.11.2
9 2.78 c
(3) Lag time (t
3.9 Numericals1
I t represent the mean time Q.12 The 3 h unit
of travel of water from hydrograph of a basin with an
all parts of catchment of area of 20 km at on hour
the outlet during Interval
storm. given are as
below, 0, 0.41, 1.38, 4, 7.72, 10.06,
9.24, 6.62,
4.57, 3.86, 2.76, 2.07, 1.38,
0.83, 0.41, 0.
f the rainfall excess
with intensity of 2 cm/h
Storm duration for a period of 4 h
followed immedlately by
another3h storm with an intensity of 1 cm/h
occurs on the
basin, what is the peak flow
Unit hydrograph
produced by this rainfall and at what time
after the commencement of rainfall
would
this peak flow occurs? Assume base flow is
negligible. JNTU Dec.-11
Base Time width (T)
Ans.
Flg. Q.11.1 Intensity of rainfall, I, =2 cm/hr andL,=1 cm/hr

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge

 Hydrographs

Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering (3- 7) in a 3 n

to peak
Duration, D 4 hrs and D, = 3 hrs and time
discharge of area
Q.13 The peak basin
derived
for a
hydrograph are
Effective rainfall in 1 time interval is given by,
unit 14 km
30 km
and L=
250 km with L= that
P 4 D, [in-cm) respectively.
Assuming
50 m 's and 9 h
applies
P 2x4=8 cm synder's synthetic
unit hydrograph

Effective rainfall in 2
nd
time interval is given by, determine the coefficient
and
C Cp
for the
2h unit hydrograph
1 x3 =3 Determine the
P2 I D, =
cm
water shed
which
upper 180
of the s a m e
km = 11.8 km.
Time Ordinates of 4H Combined U P/Q has L 2 0 km and L
JNTU : Dec.-11
h)(1 n m/s Hydrograph Substituting
without Lagged Q(m1s) values U Ans.
Given: Peak discharge, Q, = 50 m /s
lag( 2 ) b y 3 h (4)
(3) Base width, T, = 3 hours

0
0 Basin lag in hours, t, =9 hours
0.41 0.41 0.0512 30 km and
Distance from station to catchment, L
=

1.38 U0.153
1.38 L=14 km.
3 4 4 U0.442 i) Peak discharge,
4 |7.72 0.41 8.13 U0.851 2.778 x CpA

10.06 1.38 11.44 U1.111

6 9.24 13.24 U, =1.238 2.778 x 250 C
7 6.62 7.72 14.34 Ug 1.328 50

10.06 14.63 U1.331

4.57
S-0.6479
9 3.869.24 13 101.126 0.3

9.38 0.751
) C L
10 2.76 6.62
9 C,(14 x30)0.3
2.07 4.57 6.64 U20.548
11
12 1.38 3.86 5.24 U30.449 G-1.47
3.59 U4 0.280 Now, T,=2 hours, A = 180 km
13 0.832.76
14 0.41 2.07 2.48 Us-0.205 L = 20 kN, L =11.8 km

|15 0 1.38 U160.095

1.38 For second drainage basin,
U17 0.068 0.3
16 0.83 0.83
U18 0.026
CLL
17 0.41 0.41 .3

Note: Direct runoff Q, = P, U, and further calculated

1.47 (20x11.8)
by, 9 P,U+P,U, 7.571
Standard duration
93 P, U,+P2U2
P,U+P, U, 3 -137h
upto 9sPUP,Uiz Non-standard duration of rainfall of 2 hours.

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge

 3-8)
Hydrographa
Water Resources Engineering 1697.70
Hydrology and
9p A 3800
2
pr 0.447 cumecs/km
x7.571+ ii) Base period:
7.727h T 3+3 (t,/24)
Peak discharge for t,= 2his given by, T 3+3 (24.89/24)
pr2.778 C T 6.11 days
180 has an area of 1700 km
2.778 x 0.648 * Q.15 A drainage basin
=
7,727 Construct a 6 hour unit hydrograph, the data

p41.93 m/s is given below,

course = 82 km
Length of the longest water
Peaktime peakr*7.727+-8.727h another catchment,Is which
From
Q.14 A drainage basin has an area of 3800 km meteotologically homogeneous, the constant
obtained C= 1.2, C5.
Determine
Length along the main water course from the
) Lag period the
gauging station to a point opposlte
i) Peak discharge centroid of the basin = 48 km.

i) Base period JNTU Dec.-12

of a 9 hour unit hydrograph from the Ans.
following data Given: Area, A =1700 km
L 320 km, Lea =200 km, G=0.9, C4
Length of the main stream, L = 82 km

JNTU: Dec.-11 Distance from basin outlet to the centroid, L 48 km

Ans.: Given: Area = A = 3800 km,
C 1.2, C-5, t,-6 hours
Length of the main stream = L = 320 km
i) Lag period,
Distance from basin outlet to the centroid,
Lca200km
CL L
0. 3
C 0.9, C.-4.0 , 1.2 (82x 48)

i) Lag period
14.3714.37hrs
CLL
0.3
14.378 2.61 hours
5.52.61 hours
0.3
0 . 9 (320 x200)
24.89 hrs
ii) Peak discharge: P14.37+9-2.61

2.78 C A
2.78 x 4x380 15.225 hrs
24.89
= 1697.70 cumecs

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONs-An up thrust

for knowiedge
 Hydrographs
Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering
(3-9)
has a peakK
ii) Peak flow: Q.16 A 6h unit hydrograph of a basin
flow in the
/s when the base
ordinate of 96 m
Cpx 3
when the
basin has
stream is 25 m/s, and
1700 infiltration capacity of
5x;14.378 reached its minimum
cm of total
2.5 mm/h, a 6 h storm with 18.3
-591.181 cumecs on the basin. What
is
rainfall had occurred
i) Peak time: in the
the magnitude of the peak discharge
storm?
flood hydrograph produced by this
peakpr JNTU: June-12
= 15.225 +6/2
Ans. Given:
= 18.225 hour
Storm duration =6 h
iv) Basetime: Total rainfall depth = 18.3 cm

Infiltration loss at 0.25 cm/h for 6 h

T 3+3
= 0.25 x 6 1.5 cm

T 4.78 hours Excess rainfall = 18.3 c m - 1.5 cm = 16.8 cm

v) Peak discharge: Magnitude of peak discharge:

3
9,XA 1) Peak ordinate =96m/s
3,
591.18 2) Base flow = 25 m/s
9p A 1700
3) Peak of DRH = 96-25 71 m/s
9 0.348
Peak of DRH
Peak discharge for 6h-UH=Excess
5.6 5.6 rainfall
vi) Ws0 TO8 .0817.51 days
(0.348) 1
16.84.22 m's
3.21 3.21
W15 .08
1.08 OR10.037
(0.348)
days
Magnitude of peak discharge of 6 h -UH=4.22 m/s

Q.17 The following are the ordinates of a 6 hr UGfor abasin.

Time (hr)o6 12
18 24
30 36 4248
140
6 hr. UGOD 20
5698 127 147|156 154
Time(hr) 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96
6 hr.UGO 122 107 9378 65 52 41 30
138 144
Time (hr) 102 108 114 120 126 132
6hr. UGO 20.7 14.5 10 6.7 4.5|2.2 1.1
0

Details of the gauged basin : A 3230 km, L 150 km, ca 76 km another basin which
is
meteorologically and hydrologically similar has the following details. Derlve a 6 hour synthetic-unit

hydrograph for the ungauged basin JNTU: June-12

TECHNICAL
PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowiedge
 Hyarol0gy a n d Warer KesOurC8S E 9 o 9

Ans. Given:
2
Area of gauged basin =3230 km

Length of gauged basin

=
150 km

ca76 km
160
150+
140
130
120
110
100+
80
70+
60
50
40
30
20
10

12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 6e 72 84 90 98 102 114144
dime (hr)

Fig. Q.17.1
4) Peak flow,
1)
A
6 hr
33 156 x230
CX 33
2) S1.594

33 p
6-/5.5
4
5) 555-6
6 h r for 6 h of unit hydrograph t= 6

4x33 +3.5 pr 33.002

132 3.818 t, +6 6) Peak flow,
= 33.002 hr
3230
0.3
Q C-1.594xs.002
33.002 156.009 cumee
3) GLL Peak time from the
0.3 starting of rise of limb,
33.002 G(150 x76)
peak = 33.002-36.002 hr
2.002

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge

Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Hydrographs
(3-11)
Time base (in days)

- 3+3 3+324 Direct runoff depth =

0.36 x 2Oxt - 1.06 cm
A
2
=
7.125 days and 171 hours Eo-111, t-12 hr, A =450 km
The width of 6 hr unit hydrograph at 50 % and
. DRD
0.36x 2Uxt
75 % of peak ordinates are as follows:

1S6.009 = 0.048 cumec/cm

104.71 x 0.36 X12 =1 cm
99A 3230 450

5.6 5.6 Q.19 The ordinate of 6 hr UH are given, derive the

W50 (gT08 (0.04808148.747 days 12 hr UH. JNTU: May-19, Marks 5
3.21 3.21 Time (hr) o 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60o 66 72
Ws I.08 T.O8=85.264 days
(0.048) 14 hr 05 13 30 35 32 20 14 8 4 5 6 0

Q.18 The ordinate of 6 hr UH are given derive the (UGO)

12 hr UH Time (hr) 0, 6, 12, 18,
24, 30, 36, 42, discharge
(cumec)
48, 54, 60 12 hr (UGO) discharge (cumec)0, 5,
13, 30, 35, 32, 20, 14, 8, 4, 0. Ans.: Calculations
JNTU: March-17, Marks 5 Time 14hr (UGO) Base DRH UH
Ans.: Calculations discharge flow(3) column
4)
(cumec) (4)
Time 12 hr (UGO) Base DRH UH (2)-(3)
Col. 4 (2) DRD(5)
(1) discharge (cumee) flow
(4) DRD 0
2) (3) 6 5 0
0
12 13 8 5.88
5 18 30 25 18.38
12 13 5 8 8 7.54 24 35 30 22.05
18 30 5 25 23.58 30 32 27 19.85
24 35 5 30 28.30 36 20 15 11.02
30 42 14 9
32 5 27 25.47 6.61
48 8 3
36 20 15 14.15 2.20
54 4
42 14 5 8.49 -1 - 0.73

60 5 0
48 3 2.83 0
66 6
54 5
- 0.94 1 0.73
72 0
3.67
60 0 5 -5-4.71 ED 122 ZU= 89.66
3
Eo 2U= Assume base flow5m /sec.
=

111 104.71
Direct runoff depth =.56 x 20xt
A
Assuming base flow = 5 m3,/s

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS-An up thrust for knowtedge

 (3-12)
Hydrograp
Resources Engineering aamount of rainfall, which produces equ
Hydrology and Water
0.36x 122XI=136 cm runoff
450
b t o t a lrainfall-infitration-losses
0.36x U xt
DRD= the net supm
A
Cwater depth collected during
0.36x 89.66x 14 - 1,00 cem interval
450

all ofthe above

Review Questions The unit of area hydrograph may be
Q.3
1. What is hydrograph ? Explain.
ametre sq.m
dliferent factors affecting flood
the
2. What are

hydrograph ?
Ccu.m cumecs
a4 The unit hydrograph of a specified duration
3. Whet is mean by effective rainfall?
can be used to evaluate the hydrograph of
4. Describe base flow separation.
storm of
5. Explain derivation of unit hydrograph.
asame duration only
Fillin theBlanks for MidTerm Exam bsame and shorter duration
Q.1 A unit hydrograph has one unit
Csame and longer duration
d any duration
Q.2 Effective rainfall is also knownas
Q.3 Runoff coefficient is the ratio of . Q.5 S-hydrographis used to obtain unit
hydrograph of
Q.4 The rain which falls near the end of a storm at
a rate less than the infiltration capacity of the ashorter duration from longer duration
soil, is called.
longer duration from shorter duration
Q.5 A unit hydrograph is a plot or.
Cboth (a) and (b)
Multiple Choice Questions
for Mid Term Exam none of the above
Q.1 Base flow separation is performed. Answer Keys for Fill in the Blanks
a on a unit hydrograph to get the direct
Q.1 direct runoff
runoff hydrograph.
0,2 runoff
Don a filood hydrogaph to obtain the
magnitude of effective rainfal.
Q9.3 runoff/rainfall
Con flood hydrographs to obtain the rainfall
Q4 residualrain
hyetograph. Q.5 stream discharge againsttime
o n hydrographs of effluent streams only.
Answer Keys for Multiple Choice Questions
a.2 Excess or effective rainfall may be defined as Q b02 dQ3
the 94 a05
TECHNICAL PUBLIGATIONS-An up thrust for knowledge
 Hydrographs

Hvdrology and Water Resources Engineering (3-13)

Memory Map
Hydrographs

Unit
Introduction Distribution Analysis Effective Base flow Unit pulse
hydrograph
or rainfall and
Runoff unit step
Base flow function Definition
seperation

limitations

Applications

Derivation

Synthetic unit
S-hydrograph hydrograph

END...

un thrust for kogwledge