4 Analysis of Precipitation data

4. Analysis of Precipitation data
• Important for developing rainfall‐runoff relationships for
a particular
partic lar catchment.
catchment

• To find out average precipitation of watershed,

watershed point
precipitation records of precipitation from different rain
ggauge
g stations is used.

• There are manyy factors which affect the reliabilityy of

average precipitation of watershed determined by using
the data from individual stations in the watershed.
• For example :
• The total number of rain gauges and their
distribution in the catchment (larger the number of
rain gauges,
gauges the reliable will be the calculated
average precipitation).

• The size and shape of area of catchment.

• Distribution of rainfall over the area and

• Topography of the area.

• Conversion of point precipitation of various gauging
stations into average precipitation requires
experience and skill.

• There are three methods to find average

precipitation over a basin. Accuracy of estimated
average precipitation will depend upon the choice of
an appropriate method.

• These methods are described below:

– Arithmetic Mean Method
– Thiessen Polygon Method:‐
– Isohyetal Method
• Arithmetic Mean Method
– In this method the average precipitation over an
area is the arithmetic average of the gauge
precipitation values.
values
– We take data for only those stations which are
within the boundary.y
– This is the simplest method but can be applicable
only for flat areas and not for the hilly areas i.e.
this
h methodh d is used
d when:
h

•BBasin
i area is
i flat
fl andd
• All stations with in practical limits are uniformly
distributed over the area
• The rainfall is also nearly uniformly distributed over the
area
• According to this method 
According to this method
⎛1⎞ n
P (average) =  ⎜ ⎟ ∑ P i
⎝ n ⎠ i =1
or
Pav = [P
= [P1+P2+P3+…………+P
+ +Pn]/n

• Wh
Where Pi isi precipitation
i i i at station
i ‘i’ and
d
there are ‘n’ number of gauges installed in the
catchment
h area from
f where
h the
h data
d h been
has b
collected.
 Example
Si rain gauges
Six ga ges wereere installed in a relatively
relati el flat area and
storm precipitation from these gauges was recorded as 3.7,
4.9, 6.8, 11.4, 7.6 and 12.7 cm respectively from gauges 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, and 6. Find average precipitation over the catchment.
Solution

As the area is relatively flat so we apply the arithmetic mean 
method. 
method

According to arithmetic mean method
According to arithmetic mean method
P(average)=(3.7+4.9+6.8+11.4+7.6+12.7)/6 = 7.85cm.
• Thiessen Polygon Method:‐
– The fundamental principle followed in this
method consists of weighing
g g the values at each
station by a suitable proportion of the basin area.
In this method,, a special
p weighing
g g factor is
considered.
• The following steps are used to determine average 
precipitation by Thiessen Polygon Method. 
precipitation by Thiessen Polygon Method

– Draw
D th given
the i area according
di tot a certain
t i scale
l
and locate the stations where measuring devices
are installed.
installed
– Join all the stations to get a network of non‐
intersecting system of triangles.
triangles
– Draw perpendicular bisectors of all the lines
joining the stations and get a suitable network of
polygons, each enclosing one station. It is
assumed that p precipitation
p over the area enclosed
by the polygon is uniform.
Estimation of Average Precipitation Over A Basin

Continued…
– Measure area of the each polygon.
– Calculate the average precipitation. For the 
Calculate the average precipitation For the
whole basin by the formula
P (average) = (P
P (average)  (P1 A1 + P
P2 A2 + ...........
...........+ P
Pn An)/A
Where, 
P1 1 = Precipitation. at station enclosed by polygon of 
p y p yg
area A1
P2 = Precipitation. at station enclosed by 
polygon of area A
polygon of  area A2 and so on
and so on
Pn =  Precipitation. at station enclosed by 
polygon of area A
polygon of  area An
And ‘A’ represents the total area of the catchment.
• Example 
– Following is shown 
map of a catchment 
having 6 rainfall 
recording stations 
– Find the Average 
d t e e age
Precipitation over 
the whole 
catchment.
– The recorded precipitations are shown on the
map of the catchment. The Thiessen’s Polygons
are constructed by the method explained above.
The precipitation and polygon area are given
below.

Station P i i i ((mm))
Precipitation Polygon Area (km²)
Daggar 48 5,068.76
B h
Besham 33 4 349 17
4,349.17
Shinkiari 25 1,399.25
Phulra 32 1 693 80
1,693.80
Tarbela 56 2,196.33
g
Oghi 30 2,234.29
,
• Solution
– The calculations are best done in tabular form as shown in Table 
The calculations are best done in tabular form as shown in Table

Table: Average Precipitation by Thiessen Polygon Method

Station Precipitation P (mm) Polygon Area A (km²) PxA (x106 m³)
Daggar 48 5,068.76 243.30

Besham 33 4,349.17 143.52

Shi ki i
Shinkiari 25 1 399 25
1,399.25 34 98
34.98

Phulra 32 1,693.80 54.20

T b l
Tarbela 56 2 196 33
2,196.33 122 99
122.99

Oghi 30 2,234.29 67.03

T l
Total 16 941 60
16,941.60 666 02
666.02
i =n

∑ PiAi
i =1
Mean Precipitation = i =n = 666.02x106x10³/16941.60x106 = 39.3 mm
∑ Ai
i =1
• Example 
– From the data given in Table below, which was 
obtained from Thiessen Polygon map of a catchment, 
find out the average precipitation of the catchment.
T bl Precipitation
Table: P i it ti Data
D t

Sr. Gauge Area of Thiessen Sr. Gauge Area of Thiessen

No. precipitation Polygon No. precipitation Polygon
(cm) enclosing the (cm) enclosing the
station station
( k
(sq. km)) ( km)
(sq. k )
1 10.2 416 4 9.4 520
2 81
8.1 260 5 15 2
15.2 390
3 12.7 650 6 7.6 325
y Solution
y According to Thiessen Polygon Method
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A
y The calculations are shown in tabular form. 
Gauge Area of Thiessen Polygon enclosing Volume = PixAi (x104 m³)
precipitation (cm) the station (sq. km)

(1) = Pi (2) = Ai (3) = (1)x(2)

(1) (2)
10.2 416 4243.20
81
8.1 260 2106 00
2106.00
12.7 650 8255.00
9.4 520 4888.00
15.2 390 5928.00
7.6 325 2470.00
Total 2561 27890.20

So P (average) = 27890.20 ÷ 2561=10.9 cm

y Example 
p
y There are 10 observation stations, 7 being inside and 3 in neighborhood of a catchment.
Thiessen Polygons were drawn for a storm data from these observation stations as shown
in Table. Find out the average precipitation of the catchment.

Table: Average Precipitation by Thiessen Method

Sr No
Sr. Gauge precipitation Area of Thiessen Polygon enclosing the
(cm) station (sq. km)
1 5 100
2 3 160
3 4 200
4 3.5 215
5 4.7 250
6 6 175
7 4 100
• Solution 
– According to Thiessen Polygon Method
P (average)=(P1 A1 + P2 A2+ ...........+ Pn An) /A
Gauge precipitation Area of Thiessen Polygon enclosing Volume = PixAi (x104 m³)
(cm) the station (sq. km)
(1) = Pi (2) = Ai (3) = (1)x(2)
5 100 500
3 160 480
4 200 800
3.5 215 752.50
4.7 250 1175
6 175 1050
4 100 400
Total 1200 5157.50

So P(average) = 5157.5 ÷ 1200 = 4.3 cm

• IIsohyetal Method
h t l M th d
– The most accurate method of averaging precipitation
over an area is the isohyetal method.
– For estimation of average
g pprecipitation
p of the catchment
by isohyetal method the following steps are used.
• Draw the map p of the area accordingg to a certain scale.
• Locate the points on map where precipitation measuring
gauges are installed.
• Write the amount of precipitation for stations.
• Draw isohyets (Lines joining points of equal precipitation).
• Measure area enclosed between every two isohyets or the area
enclosed by an isohyet and boundary of the catchment.
• Find average precipitation by the formula.

P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A
Where,
P1= Mean precipitation of two isohyets 1 and 2
A1= Area between these two isohyets.
P2 = Mean precipitation of two isohyets 2 and 3
A2 = the area b/w these two isohyets.
and, so on
Pn = Mean precipitation of isohyets n‐1 and n
An = the area between these two isohyets.

• It may be noted that the last and first areas mentioned above may
be between an isohyet and boundary of the catchment. In this case
the precipitation at the boundary line is required which may be
p
extrapolated or interpolated.
p
y Example
y From the data given in table below, which was obtained from isohyetal map of a
catchment, find out the average precipitation of the catchment.
Table: Data from Isohyetal Map.
Isohyet No Isohyetal precipitation Area enclosed between two isohyets. (sq
(cm) km)
1 2.5 390

2 50
5.0 520

3 7.5 650

4 10.0 390

5 10.0 390

6 7.5 442

7 5.0 546

8 2.5
• Note that the isohyet No. 1 and 8 were out of the boundary of the
catchment. The area between isohyet No. 1 and the boundary was
estimated to be 312 sq.
sq km and that of between isohyet No.
No 8 and
boundary was 494 sq. km. Precipitation on these boundaries was
p
interpolated as 3.0 and 3.1 cm,, respectively.
p y
Solution
– In
I isohyetal
i h l method
h d we have
h to calculate
l l the
h average
precipitation of every two consecutive isohyets. This is
given
i i Table
in T bl below:
b l
 Estimation of Average Precipitation Over A Basin
Isohyet Isohyetal Average of precipitation Area enclosed between two Volume
No precipitation of two consecutive isohyets (sq km) (x104 m³)
(cm) isohyets (cm)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) = (3) x (4)

1 2.5 3 (for isohyet and 312 (for isohyet and 936.00
boundary) boundary)

2 5.0 6.25 520 3250.00

3 7.5 8.75 650 5687.50
4 10.0 10.0 390 3900.00
5 10.0 8.75 390 3412.50
6 7.5 6.25 442 2762.50
7 5.0 3.1 (for isohyet and 546 (for isohyet and 1692.60
boundary) boundary)

8 2.5
∑ 3250 21641.1

P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

= 21641.1/3250=6.66 cm
y Example 3.10
Example 3.10
y In a catchment of area 1,000 sq km, there are 8 rain
gauges, 5 inside the area and 3 outside, in its
surroundings. Isohyets were drawn from the data of
these rain gauges for a storm. From the isohyetal map
the following information was obtained: areas between 1
and 2 cm isohyets, 2 and 3 cm, 3 and 4 cm and 4 and 5
cm isohyets was 105, 230, 150 and 220 sq. km,
respectively. The area between one end boundary which
has 0.75 cm rainfall and 1 cm isohyet was 120 sq. km and
the other end boundary which has precipitation of 5.5 55
cm and isohyet of 5 cm was 175 sq. km. Find average
precipitation.
Solution
y In the isohyetal method we have to calculate the average precipitation
of every two consecutive isohyets.
isohyets This is given in Table below.
below
IIsohyet
h t IIsohyetal
h t l Average
A r off Area enclosed
Ar n l d Volume
V l m
No precipitatio precipitation of two between two (x104 m³)
n (cm) consecutive isohyets isohyets
(cm) (sq km)
0.875 (for isohyet and 120 (for isohyet
Boundary 0.75 105.00
boundary) and boundary)
1 1 1.5 105 157.50
2 2 2.5 230 575.00
3 3 3.5 150 525.00
4 4 4.5 220 990.00
5.25(for isohyet and
5 5 175 918.75
boundary)
Boundary 5.5
∑ 1000.00 3271.25

P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

= 3271.25/1000 = 3.27 cm
• EExample:
l
– From the
isohyetal
map shown
in Figure
below find
out average
precipitatio
n.

Fig.: Isohyetal Map

• Solution:
– The isohyets are drawn on the topographic map
by interpolating rainfall depths at given stations.
O
Once i h t are drawn,
isohyets d th area enclosed
the l d
between consecutive isohyets is determined
either by planimeter or other suitable more
precise method.
– The calculations for average precipitation are 
The calculations for average precipitation are
given in table below.
Isohyte value Av. Isohyte Area Between Consecutive Volume
(mm) Value (mm) Isohytes (km²) (x106 m³)
Boundary
y and
25 0
25.0 310 53
310.53 7 76
7.76
25
25 and 30 27.5 2220.71 61.07
30 and 35 32 5
32.5 2968 38
2968.38 96 47
96.47
35 and 40 37.5 2231.86 83.69
40 and 45 42.5 2303.52 97.90
45 and 50 47.5 2731.90 129.77
50 and 55 52.5 2689.70 141.21
55 and
55 1484.99 81.67
Boundary
Total 16 941 60
16,941.60 699 54
699.54

Mean Precipitation Depth = Volume/Area

= 699.54x106x10³/16941.60x106
= 41.29 mm
 Intensity of Precipitation
Intensity of Precipitation 
• The rate of occurrence of precipitation is
called intensityy of precipitation
p p or
precipitation occurring in unit time is known
as intensity of precipitation.
precipitation
• To find out intensity of a certain interval the
points on graph h off accumulative
l precipitation
vs time are chosen in such a way that we get
the maximum difference for the given interval.
 Intensity of Precipitation
Intensity of Precipitation
• Example
p
– Find out intensity of precipitation of 5, 10 & 15 minutes
for rainfall data ggiven in Table.
Table: Rainfall Data

Time ((Minutes)) ∑P ((cm))

0 00
05 12.5
10 20
15 42 5
42.5
20 62.5
 Intensity of Precipitation
Intensity of Precipitation

Solution:
For 5‐minutes interval the maximum difference is 
22.5
so, intensity for 5‐minutes interval  =  22.5 / 5  =  4.5 
cm/min.
For 10‐minutes intensity  =  42.5 / 10  =  4.25 
cm/min.
cm/min
For 15‐minutes intensity  =  50 / 15  =  3.33 cm/min.
 Depth Area Relationships
Depth ‐ Area Relationships
• The distribution of rainfall is usually not
uniform over the area.
• The precipitation is maximum at the centre of
storm and decreases as we move away from
the centre of storm.
• For rainfall of a given duration, the average
depth decreases with the area in an
exponential manner.
 Mass Curve
y It is a plot of cumulative precipitation against time in
chronological order. This is called mass curve of rainfall
data.

y Intensity of rainfall for a certain duration is determined

f
from thi graph.
this h This
Thi graph h gives
i a complete
l t history
hi t off a
storm regarding the duration and magnitude of
precipitation.
precipitation

y In the case of non‐recording

non recording rain gauges the mass curve
is to be plotted from the data in which both duration
and magnitude of precipitation have been observed for
different time intervals during storm.
 Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves 
y Analysis of both the time and areal distribution of a storm is required
in many hydrologic studies. Depth area duration curves provide
requisite
i it information
i f ti for
f suchh studies.
t di

y It is necessary to have information on the maximum amount of

precipitation of various durations occurring over various sizes of
areas.

y The development of a relationship between maximum depth‐area‐

d ti
duration f a region
for i i called
is ll d depth
d th area duration
d ti analysis
l i (DAD
analysis).

y In this analysis first the isohyetal maps and mass curves of worst
storms which have occurred in past in the region are prepared.
• For a storm with h a single
l major centre the
h isohyets
h are taken
k as theh
boundaries of individual area. The average storm precipitation within
each isohyet is computed.

• The storm total is distributed through

g successive increments of time
(say 3 hours) in accordance with the distribution record at nearby
stations.

• This gives data showing the time distribution of average rainfall over
areas of various sizes. From this data the maximum rainfall for various
durations (3, 6, 9, 12 hours) can be selected for each size of area.

• The maximum values for every duration plotted versus area gives
what are called depth area duration curves.
 Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
Typical
yp depth-area-duration
p curves are shown in figure
g
200
E UD (m m )

150

100

50

0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000

Area (km
(km²))

6 hour rain 12 hour rain 24 hour rain

Fig.: Typical Depth Area Curves Continued…

 Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves

• Example

– The isohyetal map shown in Figure is for 10 hour

storm over a catchment area. Area enclosed
between two consecutive isohyets is shown on the
map and isohyetal interval is 5 cm with storm
center having precipitation of 30 cm. Find:
• The average precipitation of the catchment by isohyetal
method
• Thee Equivalent
qu a e t UUniform
o Depth
ept o
of rain
a for
o dept
depth aarea
ea duration
du at o
curve.
 Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
A re a
E n c lo s e d
Is o h y te ( c m )
( s q .k m )

30 60
25 and 30 100
20 and 25 90
15 and 20 130
10 and 15 200
5 and 10 400 5 cm
10 cm
15 cm

25 cm 20 cm

30 cm

Continued…
Fig.: Isohyet Map
 Depth Area Duration Curves
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
• Solution
– The calculations are p performed in Table. The
average precipitation is found by summing up area
enclosed byy consecutive isohyets
y multiplied
p byy
average isohyte value and whole sum divided by
total area.
– The EUD is found by dividing cumulative volume
by cumulative area.
area The Figure shows variation of
EUD with area.
 Depth Area Duration Curves
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
Isohyte Area Cumm. Area
Cumm Mean Volume Cumm.
Cumm EUD
(cm) enclosed enclosed Isohyte (x106) Volume (cm)
(km²) (km²) (cm) (x106)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7=6÷3
7 6÷3

30 60 60 30.00 18.00 18.00 30.00

30 & 25 100 160 27 50

27.50 27 50
27.50 45 50
45.50 28 44
28.44

25 & 20 90 250 22.50 20.25 65.75 26.30

20 & 15 130 380 17 50

17.50 22 75
22.75 88 50
88.50 23 29
23.29

15 & 10 200 580 12.50 25.00 113.50 19.57

10 & 5 400 980 7.50 30.00 143.50 14.64

Mean Precipitation = 14.64 cm

Table: Finding EUD

Continued…
Depth Area Duration Curves
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
35

30

25
EUD ((cm)

20

15

10

-
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Cum m . Area (km ²)

Fig.: Depth-Area Curve

Continued…
 Depth Area Duration Curves
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
• Assignment
• Example 3.14 
Example 3.14
• Problem 3.1 to 3.7