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Interpretation Of Precipitation Data

Interpretation of missing precipitation data includes;

1. Estimating missing precipitation data at a station

2. Checking inconsistency in particular data at a

station
3. Averaging precipitation over an area
Checking inconsistency in a particular
data record at a station
• By a technique called Double Mass Curve Analysis.
• It is used to check the consistency of many kinds of
hydrologic data by comparing date for a single station
with that of a pattern composed of the data from
several other stations in the area.
• The double-mass curve can be used to adjust
inconsistent precipitation data.
 Double Mass Curve Analysis
• The double mass curve is obtained by
plotting the accumulated precipitation at
the station in question along X‐axis and
the average accumulated precipitation of a
number of other nearby stations which are
situated under the same meteorological
conditions along Y‐axis.
• If the curve has a constant slope, the
record of station “X” is consistent.
However, if there is any break in the slope
of the curve, the record of the station is
inconsistent and has to be adjusted by the
formula.
Pa = (Sa / So) x Po
K = (Sa / So)
Pa = Adjusted precipitation.
Po = Observed precipitation.
Sa = Slope before to the break in the curve
Example: Check consistency of the data given in table below and adjust it if it is
found to be inconsistent
Year Annual precipitation at Mean of annual Year Annual precipitation Mean of annual
x (mm) precipitation of 20 at x (mm) precipitation of 20
surrounding stations surrounding
(mm) stations (mm)

1972 188 264 1954 223 360

1971 185 228 1953 173 234
1970 310 386 1952 282 333
1969 295 297 1951 218 236
1968 208 284 1950 246 251
1967 287 350 1949 284 284
1966 183 236 1948 493 361
1965 304 371 1947 320 282
1964 228 234 1946 274 252
1963 216 290 1945 322 274
1962 224 282 1944 437 302
1961 203 246 1943 389 350
1960 284 264 1942 305 228
1959 295 332 1941 320 312
1958 206 231 1940 328 284
1957 269 234 1939 308 315
1956 241 231 1938 302 280
1955 284 312 1937 414 343

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Solution
A double mass curve is plotted by taking cumulative of average precipitation of
surrounding stations along x‐axis and accumulative precipitation of station ‘X’
along y‐axis for which consistency of data is being investigated.

12000

10000
8000 Sa/S0=0.7
6000
S0=1.176
4000

2000 Sa=0.854

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

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 The correction for slope is applied to readings before break-in slope(in
time).The calculations are shown in table, below.

Slope of Ist line = Sa = 0.854

Slope of deviating line = So = 1.176
Correction to values (multiplying factor) = 0.854/1.176 = 0.70

• Now regime changes before 1950. So up to 1950 no correction is required.

Before 1950 all readings are multiplied by slopes ratio of 0.7 to get
corrected precipitation.
• Note that data in latter interval (1973‐1950) is considered more authentic so
kept in initial reach of the graph.

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Table: Adjusted Precipitation
Year Cummulative Annual precipitation at x Cummulative precipitation of 20 surrounding Corrected Precipitation Remarks
(mm) stations (mm)

1972 188 264 188

1971 373 492 185
1970 683 878 310
1969 978 1175 295
1968 1186 1459 208
1967 1473 1809 287
1966 1656 2045 183
1965 1960 2416 304
1964 2188 2650 228
1963 2404 2940 216

No correction
1962 2628 3222 224
1961 2831 3468 203
1960 3115 3732 284
1959 3410 4064 295
1958 3616 4295 206
1957 3885 4529 269
1956 4126 4760 241
1955 4410 5072 284
1954 4633 5432 223
1953 4806 5666 173
1952 5088 5999 282
1951 5306 6235 218
1950 5552 6486 246

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Table: Adjusted Precipitation

Year Cumulative Annual precipitation Cumulative precipitation of 20 Corrected Precipitation Remarks

at x (mm) surrounding stations
(mm)

1949 5836 6770 190.8

1948 6329 7131 345

1947 6649 7413 224

1946 6923 7665 192

1945 7245 7939 225.4

Precipitation of Station 'X' x0.7

1944 7682 8241 306

1943 8071 8591 272.3

1942 8376 8819 213.5

1941 8696 9131 224

1940 9024 9415 229.6

1939 9332 9730 215.6

1938 9634 10010 211.4

1937 10048 10353 290

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 Hyetograph
• it is a chart or graphic
representation of average
distribution of rain over the earth.
&
• It is a plot of intensity of
rainfall against time interval.

• the hyetograph is derived from

mass curve and is usually
represented as bar chart

Rainfall intensity progressively

increases until it reaches a
maximum and then gradually
decreases.
• Where this maximum occurs and
how fast the maximum is reached
is what differentiates one
distribution from another.
a) Rainfall Intensity: The amount of precipitation accumulated over a unit time.
b) Duration: A continuous period of rainfall.
Example. A storm commenced at 7:00 hours. The
ordinates of the rainfall mass-curve of the
storm in mm as recommended by a recording
rain gauge at 15 min intervals are –
0,9.5,17,27,40.5,49,63,84,95,102,110,112,112
construct a hyetograph of this storm for a
uniform interval of 15 min ?
time Ordinate of Rainfall in 15 Rainfall intensity
mass min interval i (mm/hr)
curve (mm)
(mm)
7:00 0 0 0
7:15 9.5 9.5 9.5/(1/4) =38
7:30 17 7.5 7.5/(1/4) = 30
7:45 27 10 10/(1/4) = 40
8:00 40.5
8:15 49
8:30 63
8:45 84
9:00 95
9:15 102
9:30 110
9:45 112
10:00 112
POINT RAINFALL
• Point rainfall is also known as station rainfall refers to rainfall data of
a station ,depending upon the need data may be listed as
Daily,weekly,monthly,seasonal or annual values.

MOVING AVERAGE
• Moving average is a technique for smoothening out the high frequency
fluctuations of time series and to enable the trend.
• The range of m years is selected starting from first set of m years of
data.
• The average of data of m years is calculated and placed in middle year
of range m.
• The process is repeated for next year.
• Normally 3 or more years are taken, usually an odd value.
• More the years more smooth curve will be obtained.
RAINGAUGE NETWORK
• Since the catching area of rain gauge is very small
compared to areal extent of storm.
• To cover large catchment area a number of rain gauges
would be required as much as possible.
• More the rain gauges more the accuracy.
• Economic considerations and other considerations such as
topography, accessibility etc.
 RAIN GAUGE DENSITY
The World Meteorological Organization
(W.M.O)recommends the following densities-

• In flat regions of tempreture,mediterranean and tropical

zones
IDEAL: 1 station for 600 to 900 km2
ACCEPTABLE: 1 station for 900 to 3000 km2
IN mountainous region of temperature
IDEAL: 1 station for 100 to 250 km2
ACCEPTABLE: 1 station for 25 to 1000
km2

In Arid & Polar zones --1 station for 1500

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