CHAPTER 2:

RAINFALL RUNOFF
ESTIMATION
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

RAINFALL CHARACTERISTIC
• Depth : total amount of rainfall occurring during the storm
duration (mm, inch)
• Duration : Time at which rain occurs (hr )
• Intensity : the depth of rainfall over a specific period of time
(mm/hr)
• Rainfall Frequency : the probability of a rainfall event of defined
characteristics occurring in any given year.
• Area : Area of rainfall geographic
• Return Period : an estimate of how long it will be between
rainfall events of a given magnitude.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

INTENSITY DURATION FREQUENCY (IDF) CURVE

• Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves describe

the relationship between rainfall intensity, rainfall
duration, and return period (or its inverse, probability
of exceedance).
• IDF curves are commonly used in the design of
hydrologic, hydraulic, and water resource systems.
• IDF curves are obtained through frequency analysis
of rainfall observations.
• The IDF can be developed from the historical rainfall
data
• IDF curve gives depths for different durations and
frequencies at a particular location
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Figure 2.1: Typicl IDF curve

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Reading an IDF Curve

For example, a 5-year frequency, the resulting average intensity is 5
inches an hour for 12 minutes. In other words, if an average intensity of 5
inches/hour falls for a period lasting 12 minutes, it would be considered
a 5-year event.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

COMPUTE AVERAGE RAINFALL

DATA

• ARITHMETICAL MEAN METHOD

• POLYGON THEISSEN METHOD
• ISOHYETAL METHOD
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ARITHMETICAL MEAN METHOD

• This is the simplest method of computing the average rainfall over a
basin.
• Assumes that each rain gauges represents the average rainfall
that falls all around the gauge within the catchment area.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 1:

Calculate the average

precipitation by
arithmetical mean method.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 2:
Table below shows the data rainfall at six station. Calculate the mean
precipitation by arithmetical mean method.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

POLYGON THIESSEN METHOD

❖Assumes that at any point in a catchment, the rainfall is
the same as that at the nearest rain gauge so the depth
recorded at a given us applied out to a distance halfway
to the next gauge in any direction.
❖Better than arithmetic mean method because it links the
rainfall at a particular gauge to an area surrounding the
gauge.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 3:
Table below shows the rainfall data and the area bounded for each station at a
catchment area. Calculate the average rainfall for the catchment area by using
Thiessen polygon method.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

ISOHYETAL METHOD
o Isohyet – defined as a line joining points of equal rainfall.
o All the places along an isohyet experience the same
amount of rainfall. This method uses isohyets constructed
from the rain gauges by interpolating contour lines
between adjacent gauges.
o Once the isoheytal map is constructed, the area between
each pair of isohyets, within the catchment, is multiplied
by the average rainfall depth of the two boundary isohyets.
o The average rainfall over the whole catchment can be
estimated from the weight-averaged value.
o They are useful for graphical display of rainfall
distribution but less popular in engineering application.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Comparison Between the Three Methods:

Arithmetic mean method:

o This is the simplest and easiest method to compute average rainfall.
o In this method every station has equal weight regardless its location.
o If the recording stations and rainfall is uniformly distributed over the entire
catchment, then this method is equally accurate.

Thiessen method
o This method is also mechanical
o In this method the rainfall stations located at a short distance beyond the
boundary of drainage are also used to determine the mean rainfall of the basin,
but their influence diminishes as the distance from the boundary increases.
o It is commonly used for flat and low rugged areas.

Isohyetal method:
o It is the best method for rugged areas and hilly regions.
o It is the most accurate method if the contours are drawn correctly. However to
obtain the best results good judgment in drawing the isohyets and in
assigning the proper mean rainfall values to the area between them is required.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 4:
For a drainage basin of 600 km2. Isohyetals drawn
for a storm gave the following data. Calculate the
mean precipitation for the drainage area.
Isohyets (cm) Area (km2)
15 -12 92
12 – 9 128
9–6 120
6–3 175
3-1 85
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Average
value of
Isohyets (cm) Area (km2) PxA
Precipitation
(cm)
15 -12 13.5 92 1242

12 – 9 10.5 128 1344

9–6 7.5 120 900

6–3 4.5 175 787.5

3-1 1.5 85 127.5

TOTAL 600 4401

RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXERCISE 2.1

QUESTION 1
Compute the mean area precipitation for the following data using Arithmetic
Average Method and Polygon Thiessen Method. [Ans:31.125mm; 31.662]
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 2
Calculate the mean precipitation for the following data by using Polygon
Thiessen Method. [Ans: 121.849mm]

Station Area (km2) Precipitation (mm)

A 72 90
B 34 110
C 76 105
D 40 150
E 76 160
F 92 140
G 46 130
H 40 135
I 86 95
J 6 70
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 3
Calculate the mean precipitation for the following data by using Polygon
Thiessen Method. [Ans: 34.481mm]

Station No. Precipitation Area of

(mm) Thiessen
Polygon (km2)

1 35 18
2 32 20
3 28 24
4 46 17
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 4
The isohyets due to a storm in a catchment and the area of
the catchment bounded by isohyets were tabulated as
below. Calculate the mean precipitation for the drainage
area. [Ans: 8.844 cm]

Isohyets (cm) Area (km2)

Station -12 30
12 – 10 140
10 – 8 80
8–6 180
6-4 20
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 5
Table shows the record of
rainfall data for City Z.
Calculate the average
precipitation for that
catchment area.
[Ans: 17.408cm]
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION
METHODS TO CALCULATE MISSING RAINFALL
DATA

o Some precipitation stations may have short breaks in the records because of
absence of the observer or because of instrumental failures. It is often
necessary to estimate this missing record.

o The missing precipitation of a station is estimated from the observations of

precipitation at some other stations as close to and as evenly spaced around
the station with the missing record as possible.

o The station whose data is missing is called interpolation station and gauging
stations whose data are used to calculate the missing station data are called
index stations.

• NORMAL RATIO METHOD

• QUADRANT METHOD
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NORMAL RATIO METHOD

Normal Ratio Method
• This method is based selecting m stations that are near and
approximately evenly spaced around the station with the
missing record
• If the normal precipitations vary considerably then Px is
estimated by weighting the precipitation at various stations
by the ratios of normal annual precipitation. The normal
ration method gives Px as:
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 5:
Find out the missing storm precipitation of station
'C' given in the following table:
Station A B C D E
Storm precipitation (cm) 9.7 8.3 - 11.7 8
Normal Annual precipitation (cm 100.3 109.5 93.5 125.7 117.
5
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 6:

Precipitation station "X" was inoperative for

part of a month during which a storm
occurred. The storm totals at three
surrounding stations A, B and C were
respectively 10.7, 8.9 and 12.2 cm. The
normal annual precipitation amounts at
stations X, A, B and C are respectively 97.8,
112, 93.5 and 119.9 cm. Estimate the storm
precipitation for station 'X'.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUADRANT METHOD

o To account for the closeness of gage stations

to the missing data gage, quadrant method is
employed.

o The position of the station of the missing data

is made to be the origin of the four quadrants
containing the rest of stations.
RAINFALL DATA ANALYSIS

QUADRANT METHOD

Px = the missing data

RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 7:
In a river basin a station A was in operative during a storm, while stations
B,C,D and E, surrounding A were in operation, recording 74mm, 88mm,
71mm and 80mm of monthly rainfall. The coordinates of the stations is
given in the figure below. Estimate the missing monthly rainfall of station
A by quadrant method.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Station Precipitation, Pxw

P (mm)
y
x

B 74 9 6 117 0.00855 0.633

C 88 12 -9 225 0.00444 0.391
D 71 -11 -6 157 0.00637 0.452
E 80 -7 7 98 0.01020 0.816
TOTAL 0.02956 2.292
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 8:
Annual rainfall at a point M is needed. At five points
surrounding the point M the values of recorded rainfall
together with the coordinates of these stations with respect to
a set of axes at point M are given below. Estimate the annual
rainfall at point M by using quadrant method.

Station Precipitation, P (mm) x (cm) y (cm)

A 102 2.0 1.0

B 120 2.0 2.0
C 126 3.0 1.0
D 108 1.5 1.0
E 131 4.5 1.5
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXERCISE 2.2

QUESTION 1
Raingauge station X did not function for a part of a month during which a
storm occurred. The storm produced rainfalls of 84, 70 and 96 mm at three
surrounding stations A, B and C respectively. The normal annual rainfall at
station X, A, B and C are respectively 770, 882, 736 and 944mm. Estimate the
missing storm rainfall at station X. [Ans: 74.96mm]

QUESTION 2
Find out the missing storm precipitation data of station X given in following
tables. [Ans: 3.06 cm]

Station 1 2 X 3 4
Storm precipitation (cm) 3.8 3.25 - 4.6 3.15
Normal Annual precipitation (cm 39.50 43.1 36.8 49.5 46.2
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 3
Precipitation station X was inoperative for part of a month during which a
storm totals at three surrounding stations A, B and C were 98, 80 and 110mm.
The normal annual precipitation amounts at station X, A, B and C respectively
800, 1008, 842 and 1080mm. Estimate the missing storm rainfall at station X.
[Ans: 78.42mm]

QUESTION 4
Stations A,B,C,D,E and F are the
gauge stations. Rain gauge at
station a was out of operation.
Precipitation amounts for other
stations were 40, 45, 37.5, 50 and
42.5mm. Calculate the rainfall
depth at station A using the
quadrant method.
[Ans: 42.36mm]
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 5
Station A failed to report the rainfall during a storm. With respect to
east-west and north-south axes set up at station A, the co-ordinates of
4 surrounding gauges which are the nearest to A in in the respective
quadrants are (7.5, 7.5), (-10, 15), (-5, -6.5), (12, -8) km respectively.
Determine the missing rainfall at A, if the storm rainfall at four
surrounding gauges are 98, 67, 72 and 53 mm respectively.
[Ans: 75.93 mm]

QUESTION 6
The coordinate distances in km of 5 raingauge station X, A, B, C and D
are (0, 0), (4, 5), (-6, 8), (-9, -6) and (5, -7) respectively. During July, 2005
station X was in operative and the other four stations A, B, C and D
recorded rainfalls of 8.3, 10.1, 7.7 and 12.4 cm respectively. Calculate
the missing July rainfall at X. [Ans: 9.51 mm]
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

QUESTION 7
Station A failed to report the rainfall during a storm. With respect to
east-west and north-south axes set up at station A, the co-ordinates of
4 surrounding gauges which are the nearest to A in in the respective
quadrants are (7.5, 7.5), (-10, 15), (-5, -6.5), (12, -8) km respectively.
Determine the missing rainfall at A, if the storm rainfall at four
surrounding gauges are 98, 67, 72 and 53 mm respectively.
[Ans: 75.93 mm]
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

DOUBLE MASS CURVE METHOD

❖This is a method used to check inconsistency in gauge reading.

❖The inconsistency could be attributed to environmental

changes such as sudden weather changes that adversely effect
gauge reading, vandalism, instrument malfunction, etc.

❖Double Mass Curve is a plot of accumulated annual or seasonal

precipitation at the effected station versus the mean values of
annual or seasonal accumulated precipitation for a number of
stations surrounding the station that have been subjected to
similar hydrological environment and known to be consistent.

❖The double mass curve produced is then examined for trends

and inconsistencies which is reflected by the change of slope.
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• A typical Double Mass Curve of infected station (station A)

versus mean values of similar stations is shown below:
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• As shown in the figure, the slope of the Double Mass Curve

changed abruptly from m1 prior to 1990 to m2 after 1990.
• The record can then be adjusted using the following ratio:

where: ma (adjusted)
mo (observed)

• In the above, subscript a denotes adjusted and o denotes

observed.
• If the initial part of the record need to be adjusted then m2 is
the correct slope and PA2 and PB2 are correct.
• So, if m2 is the correct slope, the slope m1 should be removed
from PA1 and replaced by m2 by using the formula: p A1 = (m2 /
m1) P A1 where pA1 is the adjusted data.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Reminder :
Slope ok is divided
by slope faulty.
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXAMPLE 9:
Gauge H was permanently relocated after a period of 3 years.
Adjust the double mass curve and find the value of H79, H80
and H81

Year E F G H

1979 22 26 23 28

1980 21 26 25 33

1981 27 31 28 38

1982 25 29 29 31

1983 19 22 23 24

1984 24 25 26 28

1985 17 19 20 22

1986 21 22 23 26
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Total Cumulative Cumulative

Year E F G H
∑(E + F + G) E+F+G H
1979 22 26 23 28 71 71 28
1980 21 26 25 33 72 143 61
1981 27 31 28 38 86 229 99
1982 25 29 29 31 83 312 130
1983 19 22 23 24 64 376 154
1984 24 25 26 28 75 451 182
1985 17 19 20 22 56 507 204
1986 21 22 23 26 66 573 230
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RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

Reminder :
Slope ok is divided
by slope faulty.

Calculate the slope,S1 from 1979 – 1981

S1 = (99 – 0 )/(229 – 0)
= 0.4323
Calculate the slope,S2 from 1981 – 1986
S2 = (230 – 99 )/(573 – 229)
= 0.3808
Make a correction,PH = PH(S2/S1), so in this case from year 1979 – 1981 :
P1979 = 28 x (0.3808/0.4323) = 24.7
P1980 = 33 x (0.3808/0.4323) = 29.1
P1981 = 38 x (0.3808/0.4323) = 33.5
Put in the table below for a real data :

Year 1979 1980 1981

Rainfall (in) 24.7 29.1 33.5
RAINFALL RUNOFF ESTIMATION

EXERCISE 2.3

QUESTION 1

Measured annual
precipitation gauge for five
stations (A, B, C, D and E)
from 1976 until 1992 are
given below. After 5 years,
gauge A was relocated at a
new station due to changes
in land use that make it
impractical to maintain the
gauge at the old location.
You are required to adjust
the record for the period
from 1976 to 1980 using the
records at gauges B, C, D
and E.