CVS 348: HYDROLOGY

CHAPTER 7: HYDROGRAPHS
7.1. Introduction
 Consider a concentrated storm producing a fairly uniform rainfall of duration, D over a catchment. After initial losses
and infiltration losses are met, the rainfall excess reaches the stream through overland and channel flows.
 In the process of translation a certain amount of storage is built up in the overland and channel-flow phases.
 This storage gradually depletes after the cessation of the rainfall. Thus there is a time lag between the occurrence of
rainfall in the basin and the time when that water passes the gauging station at the basin outlet.
 The runoff measured at the stream-gauging station will give a typical hydrograph as shown in Fig, 7.1.
 The hydrograph of this kind which results due to an isolated storm is typically single-peaked skew distribution of
discharge and is known variously as storm hydrograph, flood hydrograph or simply hydrograph.
 It has 3 characteristic regions:
i. The rising limb AB, joining point A, the starting point of the rising curve and point B, the point of
inflection.
ii. The crest segment BC between the two points of inflection with a peak P in between,
iii. The falling limb or depletion curve CD starting from the second point of inflection C.

Fig. 7.1: Elements of a Flood Hydrograph

 The hydrograph is the response of a given catchment to a rainfall input. It consists of flow in all the 3 phases
of runoff, viz. surface runoff, interflow and base flow.

7.2. Factors Affecting Flood Hydrograph

 The factors that affect the shape of the hydrograph can be broadly grouped into climatic factors and
physiographic factors.
 Each of these two groups contains a host of factors and the important ones are listed in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1: Factors Affecting Flood Hydrograph

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7.2.1. Physiographic Factors
1. Shape of the Basin
 The shape of the basin influences the time take for water from the remote parts of the catchment to arrive at
the outlet.
 Thus the occurrence of the peak and hence the shape of the hydrograph are affected by basin shape.
 Fan-shaped, i.e. nearly semi-circular shaped catchments give high peak and narrow hydrographs while
elongated catchments give broad and low-peaked hydrographs.
 Fig. 7.2 shows schematically the hydrographs from 3 No. catchments having identical infiltration
characteristics due to identical rainfall over the catchment.
 In catchment A the hydrograph is skewed to the left, i.e. the peak occurs relatively quickly. In B, the
hydrograph is skewed to the right, the peak occurring with a relatively longer lag. Catchment C indicates the
complex hydrograph produced by a composite shape.

Fig. 7.2: Effect of Catchment Shape on the Hydrograph

Read about the other factors and Make short Notes

7.3. Components of a Hydrograph

 As indicated earlier, the essential components of a hydrograph are:
i. The rising limb,
ii. The crest segment, and
iii. The recession limb (Fig.7.1)
 A few salient features of these components are described below.

Rising Limb
 The rising limb of a hydrograph, also known as concentration curve represents the increase in discharge due
to the gradual building up of storage in channels and over the catchment surface.
 The initial losses and high infiltrati0on losses during the early period of a storm cause the discharge to rise
rather slowly in the initial period.
 As the storm continues, more and more flow from distant parts reach the basin outlet.
 Simultaneously the infiltration losses also decrease with time. Thus under a uniform storm over the
catchment, the runoff increases rapidly with time.

Crest Segment
 The crest segment is one of the most important parts of a hydrograph as it contains the peak flow.
 The peak flow occurs when the runoff from various parts of the catchment simultaneously contribute
amounts to achieve the maximum flow at the basin outlet.
 Generally for large catchments, the peak flow occurs after the cessation of rainfall, the time interval from the
centre of mass of rainfall to peak being essentially controlled by basin and storm characteristics.
 Multiple-peaked hydrographs in a basin can occur when two or more storms occur in succession.

Recession Limb
 The recession limb, which extends from the point of inflection at the end of the crest segment (point C in
Fig.7.1) to the commencement of the natural groundwater flow (point D in Fig. 7.1) represents the
withdrawal of water from the storage built up in the basin during the earlier phases of the hydrograph.
 The starting point of the recession limb, i.e. the point of inflection represents the condition of maximum
storage.

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  Since the depletion of storage takes place after the cessation of rainfall, the shape of this part of the
hydrograph is independent of storm characteristics and depends entirely on the basin characteristics.

7.4. Base Flow Separation

 In many hydrograph analyses a relationship between the surface-flow hydrograph and the effective (i.e.
rainfall minus losses) is sought to be established.
 The surface-flow hydrograph is obtained from the total storm hydrograph by separating the quick-response
flow from the slow response runoff.
 There are 3 methods of base-flow separation that are in common use. They are:

1. Method 1 – Straight-Line method

 In this method, the separation of the base flow is achieved by joining with a straight line the beginning of the
surface runoff to a point on the recession limb representing the end of the direct runoff.
 In Fig. 7.3 point A represents the beginning of the direct runoff and easy to locate. Point B, marking the end
of the direct runoff is rather difficult to locate exactly.
 An empirical equation for the time interval N (days) from the peak to the point B is:
……………………………………………………………… (7.1)

Where A = drainage area in km2 and N is in days.

 Point A and B are joined by a straight line to demarcate to the base flow and surface runoff.

Fig. 7.3: Base flow Separation Methods

2. Method 2
 In this method the base flow curve existing prior to the commencement of the surface runoff is extended till it
intersects the ordinate drawn at the peak (point C in Fig. 7.3).
 This point is joined to point B by a straight line.
 Segment AC and CB demarcate the base flow and surface runoff.
 This is probably the most widely used base-flow separation procedure.

3. Method 3
 In this method the base flow recession curve after the depletion of the flood water is extended backwards till
it intersects the ordinate at the point of inflection (line EF in Fig. 7.3).
 Point A and F are joined by an arbitrary smooth curve.
 This method is realistic in situations where the groundwater contributions are significant and reach the stream
quickly.

 It seems that all the 3 methods of base-flow separation are rather arbitrary. The selection of anyone of them
depends upon the local practice and successful predictions achieved in the past.
 The surface runoff hydrograph obtained after the base-flow separation is also known as direct runoff hydrograph
(DRH).

7.5. Effective Rainfall

 Effective rainfall (also known as Excess rainfall) (ER) is that part of the rainfall that becomes direct runoff at
the outlet of the watershed.

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 Therefore it’s the total rainfall in a given duration from which abstractions such as infiltration and initial
losses are subtracted.
 Figure 7.4 shows the hyetograph of a storm. The initial loss and infiltration losses are subtracted from it.
 The resulting hyetograph is known as effective rainfall hyetograph (ERH) or excess rainfall hyetograph.

Fig. 7.4: Effective Rainfall Hyetograph

 Both DRH and ERH represent the same total quantity but in different units.
 Since ERH is usually in cm/h plotted against time, the area of ERH multiplied by the catchment area gives
the total volume of direct runoff which is the same as the area of DRH.

Example 7.1: Rainfall of magnitude 3.8 cm and 2.8 cm occurring on two consecutive 4-h durations on a
catchment of area 27 km2 produced the following hydrograph of flow at the outlet of the catchment. Estimate the
rainfall excess and ø index.

Solution
 Plotted hydrograph (Fig. 7.5)

Fig. 7.5: Base Flow separation- Example 7.1

 Using the simple straight-line method of base-flow flow separation, by Eq. 7.1

 However, by inspection, DRH starts at t= 0, has the peak at t = 12h and ends at t = 48 h. which gives a
value of N= 48 – 12 = 36 h appears to be more satisfactory than N = 38.5 h, in the present case DRH is
assumed to exist from t=0 to 48 h.
 A straight line base flow separation gives a constant value of 5 m3/s for the base flow.

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Example 7.2: A storm over a catchment of area 5.0 km2 had a duration of 14 hours. The mass curve of rainfall is a s
follows:

If the ø index for the catchment is 0.4 cm/h, determine the effective rainfall hyetograph and the volume of direct runoff
from the catchment due to the storm.

Solution:
First the depth of rainfall in a time interval ∆t = 2 hours, in total duration of the storm is calculated, (col. 4 of Table
7.2).
Table 7.2: Calculation for Example 7.2

 In a given time interval ∆t, effective rainfall (ER) is given by

ER = (actual depth of rainfall - ø ∆t)
OR ER = 0, whichever is larger.
 For plotting the hyetograph, the intensity of effective rainfall is calculated in Col. 7. (Fig. 7.6).

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 Fig. 7.6: ERH of Storm – Example 7.2
 Total effective rainfall = Direct runoff due to storm = area of ER hyetograph = (0.7+0.8+0.35+0.45) x 2= 4.6
cm.

7.6. Unit Hydrograph

 The problem of predicting the flood hydrograph resulting from a known storm in a catchment has received
considerable attention. One of the popular methods put forth is the unit-hydrograph method.
 A unit hydrograph is defined as the hydrograph of direct runoff resulting from one unit depth (1 cm) of
rainfall excess occurring uniformly over the basin and at a uniform rate for a specified duration (D hours).
 The term unit refers to a unit depth i.e. 1 cm. the duration, being key characteristic, is used as a prefix to a
specified unit hydrograph. Thus: a 6-h unit hydrograph, 12-h unit hydrograph, etc. (Generally a D-h unit
hydrograph)
 The definition of a unit hydrograph implies the following:
1. The unit hydrograph represents the lumped response of the catchment to a unit rainfall excess of
D-h duration to produce a DRH. Hence the volume of water contained in the unit hydrograph
must be equal to the rainfall excess. As 1 cm depth of rainfall is considered the area of the unit
hydrograph I equal to a volume given by 1 cm over the catchment.
2. The rainfall is considered to have an average intensity of excess rainfall (ER) of 1/D cm/h for
the duration D-h of the storm.
3. The distribution of the storm is considered to be uniform all over the catchment.

Figure 7.7 show a typical 6-h unit hydrograph. Here the duration of the rainfall excess is 6 h.

Area under the unit hydrograph = 12.92 x 106 m3

Fig. 7.7: Typical 6-h Unit Hydrograph

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 Basic Assumptions on Unit-hydrograph theory
Two basic assumptions constitute the foundations for the unit-hydrograph theory. These are:
i. The time invariance and,
ii. The linear response.

Time Invariance
 This basic assumption postulates that the direct-runoff response to a given effective rainfall in a catchment is time-
invariant.
 This implies that the DRH for a given ER in a catchment is always the same irrespective of when it occurs.

Linear response
 The direct-runoff response to the rainfall excess is assumed to be linear.
 This is the most important assumption of the unit hydrograph theory.
 Linear response means that if an input x1(t) causes an output y1(t) and an input x2(t) causes an output y2(t), then an
input x1(t)+ x2(t) gives an output y1(t)+ y2(t). Consequently, if x2(t) = rx1(t), then y2 (t) = ry1(t).
 Thus, if the rainfall excess in a duration D is r times the unit depth, the resulting DRH will have ordinates bearing
ratio r to those of the corresponding D-h unit hydrograph.
 Since the area of the resulting DRH should increase by the ratio r, the base of the DRH will be the same as that of the
unit hydrograph.
 This assumption of linear response in a unit hydrograph enables the method of superposition to be used to derive
DRHs,
 The following examples illustrate the assumption of linear response.

Example 7.3: Given below are the ordinates of a 6-h unit hydrograph for a catchment. Calculate the ordinates of the
DRH due to a rainfall excess of 3.5 cm occurring in 6 h.

Solution
 The desired ordinates of the DRH are obtained by multiplying the ordinates of the unit hydrograph by a factor of 3.5
as in Table 7.3.
 The resulting DRH as also the unit hydrograph are shown in Fig. 7.8.
 The base of DRH remains the same as that of the unit hydrograph.
 The intervals of the coordinates of the unit hydrograph (shown in column 1) are not in any way related to the duration
of the rainfall excess and can be any convenient value.
Table 7.3: Calculation of DRH due

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 Fig. 7.8: 3.5 DRH derived from 6-h Unit Hydrograph-Example 7.2

Example 7.4: Two storms of 6-h duration and having rainfall excess values of 3.0 and 2.0 cm respectively occur
successively. The 2 –cm ER rain follows the 3 –cm rain. The 6-h unit hydrograph for the catchment is the same as
given in Example 7.3. Calculate the resulting DRH.

Solution
 First, the DRHs due to 3.0 and 2.0 cm ER are calculated by multiplying the ordinates of the unit hydrograph by 3
and 2 respectively.
 Noting that the 2-cm DRH occurs after the 3-cm DRH, the ordinates of the 2-cm DRH are lagged by 6 hrs as
shown in col. 4 of Table 7.4. Cols 3 and 4 give the proper sequence of the 2 DRHs.
 Using the method of superposition, the ordinates of the resulting DRH are obtained by combining the ordinates of
the 3- and 2-cm DRHs at any instant.
 By this process the ordinates of the 5 cm DRH are obtained in col. 5. Figure 7.9 shows the component 3- and 2-
cm DRHs as well as the combined 5-cm DRH obtained by the method of superposition.

Table 7.4: Calculation of DRH by method of Superposition –Example 7.4

Time(h) Ordinate of Ordinate Ordinate Ordinate Remark
6-h UH of 3-cm of 2-cm of 5-cm
(m3/s) DRH DRH DRH
(col.2)*3 (col.2)*2 (col.3+
col. 4)
(m3/s)
1 2 3 4 5 6
0 0 0 0 0  
3 25 75 0 75  
6 50 150 0 150  
9 85 255 50 305  
12 125 375 100 475  
15 160 480 170 650  
18 185 555 250 805  
(21) (172.5) (517.5) (320) (837.5) Interpolated
value
24 160 480 370 850  
36 110 330 320 650  
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 42 60 180 220 400  
48 36 108 120 228  
54 25 75 72 147  
60 16 48 50 98  
(66) (2.7) (8.1) (16) (24.1) Interpolated
value
69 0 0 (10.6) (10.6) Interpolated
value
75 0 0 0 0  
Note: 1. The entries in col. 4 are shifted by 6 h in time relative to col. 2.
2. Due to unequal time interval of ordinates a few entries have to be interpolated to complete the table.

Fig. 7.9: Principle of Superposition – Example 7.3

Assumptions for development of Unit hydrographs

1. The effective rainfall is uniformly distributed throughout the whole area of the drainage basin.
2. The effective rainfall is uniformly distributed within its duration over the specified period of time.
3. The base or time duration of the hydrograph of direct runoff due to an effective rainfall of unit duration is
constant.
4. The ordinates of the direct run-off hydrographs of a common base time are directly proportional to the total
amount of direct runoff represented by each hydrograph.
5. For a given drainage basin, the hydrograph of the runoff due to a given period of rainfall reflects all the combined
physical characteristic of the basin.

Uses of Unit Hydrographs

Assignment: Briefly explain the important purposes for which a unit hydrograph can be used.

7.7. Unit Hydrograph Derivation

 To derive the unit hydrograph from a simple rainstorm divide the direct discharge values of time-discharge curve by
the height of effective rainfall to get the unit hydrograph.
 For example if the total effective rain volume is 5.4 mm then divide all direct discharge
values of time-discharge curve by 5.4 to get the unit hydrograph. A detailed example
follows.
 Suppose that there are M pulses of excess rainfall and N pulses of direct runoff is observed in a storm. Then N-M+1
values will be needed to define the unit hydrograph. The discrete convolution equation, given below, it allows the
computation of direct runoff Qn given excess rainfall Pm and the unit hydrograph Un-m+1.
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 ………………………………………………………………….. (7.2)

 The reverse process, called deconvolution, is needed to derive a unit hydrograph given data on P m and Qn. Suppose
that there are M pulses of excess rainfall and N pulse of direct runoff in the storm considered; then N equation can be
written for Qn, with n = 1,2,….,N. The equations will consist of N – M + 1 unknown values of the unit hydrograph.
Few of the equations will be redundant, because there are more equations (N) than unknowns (N – M + 1).
 The following table 7.5 shows the set of equations for discrete time convolution

Table 7.5: Equations for discrete time convolution

Example 7.5
An observed hydrograph is given below with the corresponding excess rainfall. The time interval is 6 hours between readings.
Observed hydrograph for this event is shown in the figure.

Solution
1st define the number of equations. There are 3 pulses of rainfall so M = 3. There are 13 pulses of observed direct runoff so N =
13. The total number of unit hydrograph ordinates are N – M +1 = 13 – 3 + 1 = 11 ordinates. So we have to solve 11 linear
equations as follows.

Explanation of the Table

What the unit hydrograph says is that each pulse of runoff (1-13 in this example) is generated by some linear combination of
the excess rainfall. For example, the very first pulse of rainfall (10 mm) caused the very first pulse of runoff (10 m 3/s). Because

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it is the only rainfall that occurred during that time interval, it alone is responsible for the runoff that is occurring. Similarly, the
second pulse of rainfall is caused by rainfall pulse 1 and 2 (10 and 30 mm) because they alone occurred during that time
interval. So the unit hydrograph is merely a solution to a set of linear equations that determine the contributions of rainfall over
time to the direct runoff hydrograph. The unit hydrograph becomes “normalized” during the deconvolution process to
represent the flow that would occur from one unit of rainfall occurring during the 1st time interval.

Now plug in the numbers.

We now have 11 linear equations with 11 unknowns. Each unknown is an ordinate of the unit hydrograph. We have to solve
these in a step-wise fashion starting with U1. Let’s work them out.

EQ 1. 10 = 10U1 U1 = 10/10 = 1 cms direct runoff / mm excess rainfall

EQ 2. 70 = 30U1 + 10U2 U2 = (70 – 30 U1)/10 = (70 – 30(1))/10 = 4
EQ 3. 200 = 20U1 + 30U2 + 10U3 U3 = (200 –20U1 – 30U2)/10 = (200 – 20(1) – 30(4))/10 = 6
EQ 4. 460 = 20U2 + 30U3 + 10U4 U4 = (460 - 20U2 - 30U3)/10 = (460 – 20(4) – 30(6))/10 = 20
EQ 5. 1780 = 20U3 + 30U4 + 10U5 U5 = (1780 -20U3 - 30U4)/10 = (1780 – 20(6) – 30(20))/10 = 106
EQ 6. 3880 = 20U4 + 30U5 + 10U6 U6 = (3880 - 20U4 - 30U5)/10 = (3880 - 20(20) – 30(106)/10 = 30
EQ 7. 3160 = 20U5 + 30U6 + 10U7 U7 = (3160 - 20U5 - 30U6)/10 = (3160 – 20(106) – 30(30)/10 = 14
EQ 8. 1120 = 20U6 + 30U7 + 10U8 U8 = (1120 - 20U6 - 30U7)/10 = (1120 – 20(30) – 30(14)/10 = 10
EQ 9. 620 = 20U7 + 30U8 + 10U9 U9 = (620 - 20U7 - 30U8)/10 = (620 – 20(14) – 30(10)/10 = 4
EQ 10. 340 = 20U8 + 30U9 + 10U10 U10= (340 - 20U8 - 30U9)/10 = (340 – 20(10) – 30(4)/10 = 2
EQ 11. 150 = 20U9 + 30U10 + 10U11 U11= (150 - 20U9 - 30U10)/10 = (150 – 20(4) – 30(2) / 10 = 1

The resulting unit hydrograph is shown below in tabular and graphical form. This hydrograph represents the flow that would
result from 1 mm of rainfall occurring during the 1st time interval (i.e. first half an hour).

7.8. Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

 If there is no data for the specific catchment to derive the unit hydrograph, it is sometimes possible to construct a
synthetic unit hydrograph.
 This is usually based on empirical functions, which correlate unit hydrograph with some basic morphologic data of the
catchment such as area, slope, and land cover together with knowledge of catchments in the region. Two models of
synthetic unit hydrograph will be covered in the course. They are Snyder’s method and SCS-dimensionless unit
hydrograph.

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  The key properties of a unit hydrograph that will affect design flows are the peak flow rate, the time to peak, and the
duration of runoff. In many cases, the exact shape of the unit hydrograph is relatively unimportant as long as the
above three properties are reasonably correct.
 Synthetic unit hydrograph attempt to estimate these three key properties based on information of watershed
characteristics.

7.8.1. Snyder’s Unit Hydrograph

 To develop a unit hydrographs based on Snyder’s method, five inputs are required. They are A (watershed area), L
(length of main stream from outlet to divide), Lca (length to centroid of basin), Ct and Cp (model coefficients).
 These model coefficients can be determined from gauged watersheds in the region and transferred to the ungauged
design site. Empirically, Ct values ranges from 0.3 to 6.0. Cp values are in the range of 0.31 to 0.93.
 Elements of a Synthetic unit hydrograph are shown on Fig. 7.10.

Fig. 7.10: Elements of a Synthetic Unit Hydrograph.

Procedure for Generation of a Snyder’s Unit hydrograph

1. Estimate basin lag. Basin lag is the time lag from the centroid of excess rainfall hyetograph to the peak runoff.
Snyder’s method estimates basin lag as:
……………………………………………………………… (7.3)
Where tp is in hours, L and Lca is in km
2. Estimate peak discharge

………………………………………………………………….. (7.4)
Qp is in cms, A in square km, tp in hr

3. Estimate time base of unit hydrograph, which is the time of direct runoff.

………………………………………………………… (7.5)
Tb (days), tp (hr)
This formula is intended for large watersheds. For small watersheds, the formula will give excessively large time
bases. Hence for small and moderate watersheds, the time base (in hours) should be calculated as 3-5 times the basin
lag (use Tb=4tp [hrs] in lack of better knowledge).

4. Determine the duration D to which the unit hydrograph corresponds

………………………………………………………………….. (7.6)
D (hr), tp (hr)

5. Adjust the unit hydrograph to desired duration. In many cases, one is interested in a unit hydrograph with a specific
duration. For example, if the design hyetograph is given in time steps of 1 hour, it is desirable to have a unit
hydrograph with duration of 1 hour. The duration can be changed using the S-curve method; however, in Snyder’s
method the following adjustment is recommended: First, adjust lag time as follows
………………………………………………… (7.7)
Where: D’ is the desired rainfall duration
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 tp’ is the corresponding basin lag
6. Calculate the time of rise. Basin lag, tp, is the time from the centroid of excess rainfall to the peak of the unit
hydrograph. Hence, the time of rise is calculated as follows.

…………………………………………………… (7.8)

7. To assist in sketching the unit hydrograph, calculate unit hydrograph width at 50% and 75% of Qp.

&

………………………………………………………………….. (7.9)
W75 and W50 (hrs), Qp (cms), A (km2)

 The endpoints of the intervals defined by W75 and W50 should be placed so that 1/3 appears before TR and 2/3 after. The
above information provides sufficient detail to allow a sketching of the unit hydrograph.
 Adjustments should be made such that the volume of runoff (area under the curve) corresponds to 1 cm of runoff.

Exercise7.1
The following characteristics are given for a watershed. Develop a 2-hr unit hydrograph for the basin
Area= 550 km2
Watershed length L = 65 km
Length to center Lca = 45 km
Coefficient Ct = 1.257
Coefficient Cp = 0.576

7.8.2. SCS Dimensionless Unit Hydrograph

 Dimensionless unit hydrographs based on a study of a large number of unit hydrographs are recommended by various
agencies to facilitate construction of synthetic unit hydrographs.
 A typical dimensionless UH developed by the US SCS is shown in Fig. 7.11. In this the ordinate is (Q/Q p) which is
the discharge Q expressed as a ratio to the peak discharge Qp.
 The abscissa is (t/Tp), which is the time t expressed, as a ratio of the time to peak Tp.
 By definition, Q/Qp = 1.0 when t/Tp = 1.0. (UH)
 The coordinates of the SCS dimensionless unit hydrograph is given in Table 7.5 for use in developing a synthetic unit
hydrograph in place of Snyder’s equations (7.5) through (7.9).

Table 7.5: Coordinates of SCS Dimensionless Unit Hydrograph

SCS Triangular Unit Hydrograph

 The value of Qp and Tp may be estimated using a simplified model of a triangular unit hydrograph (Fig. 7.12)
suggested by SCS.
 This triangular unit hydrograph has the same percentage of volume on the rising side as the dimensionless
UH of Fig 7.11.

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 Fig. 7.11: Dimensionless SCS Unit Hydrograph

Fig. 7.12: SCS Triangular Unit Hydrograph

 In Fig. 7.12;
Qp = peak discharge in m3/s
tr = duration of effective rainfall
Tp = time of rise = time to peak = (tr/2) + tp
tp = lag time
Tb = base length
 SCS suggest that the time of recession =
= (Tb – Tp) = 1.67 Tp
Thus Tb = 2.67 TP

Since the area under the UH is equal to 1 cm,

If A = area of the watershed in km2,

…………………………………….. (7.10)
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  Further on the basis of a large number of small rural watersheds, SCS found that tp ≈ 0.6tc, where
tc =time of concentration.

Thus:

…………………………………………………. (7.11)

Example 7.6
Develop a 30 minute SCS triangular unit hydrograph for a watershed of area 550 ha and time of concentration of 50
minutes.

Solution
A = 550 ha = 5.5 km2
tr =30 min = 0.5 h,
tc = 50 min = 0.833 h
lag time

 The derived triangular unit hydrograph I shown in Fig. 7.12:

Fig. 7.12: Triangular Unit Hydrograph- Example 7.6

Tutorials
1. Why is base flow separated from the flood hydrograph in the process of developing a unit
hydrograph?
2. Explain a procedure of deriving a synthetic unit hydrograph for a catchment by using Snyder’s method.
3. Given below are observed flows from a storm of 6-h duration on a stream with a catchment area of 500 km2

Assuming the base flow to be zero, derive the ordinates of the 6-h unit hydrograph. (Hint: Given ordinates/4.32)

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4. A flood hydrograph of a river draining a catchment of 189 km 2 due to a 6 hour isolated storm is in the form of a triangle
with a base of 66 hour and a peak ordinate of 30 m 3/s occurring at 10 hour from the start. Assuming zero base flow,
develop the 6-hour unit hydrograph for this catchment. (Answer: Base = 66 hour; Qp = 15.91 m3/s at 10 hrs from start)
5. The 6-h unit hydrograph of a catchment of area 1000 km 2 can be approximated as a triangle with base of 69 h. Calculate
the peak ordinate of this unit hydrograph. (Answer: 80.5 m3/s )
6. A basin has an area of 400 km2, and the following characteristics:
L = basin length = 35 km
Lca = Length up to the centroid of the basin = 10 km
Snyder’s coefficients: Ct = 1.5 and Cp = 0.70

Develop synthetically the 3-h synthetic –unit hydrograph for this basin using Snyder’s method.
(Answer: tp = 9h; Qp = 86.5 m3/s; W50 = 30.7 h; W75 = 17.5 h; Tb= 52 h )
7. The one-hour unit hydrograph of a small rural catchment is triangular in shape with a peak value of 3.6 m 3/s occurring at 3
hour from the start and a base time of 9 hours. Following urbanization over a period of two decades, the infiltration index
ø has decreased from0.70 cm/h to 0.40 cm/h. Also the one-hour unit hydrograph has now a peak of 6.0 m 3/s at 1.5 hours
and a time base of 6 hours. If a design storm has intensities of 4.0 cm/h and 3.0 cm/h for two consecutive one hour
intervals, estimate the percentage increase in the peak storm runoff and in the volume of flood runoff due to urbanization.
(Answer: 91.4% and 59.44 % )
8. The following are ordinates of the hydrograph of flow from a catchment area of 770 km2 due to a 6-h
rainfall. Derive the ordinates of the 6-h unit hydrograph. Make suitable assumptions regarding the
base flow.

Answer

9. The ordinates of a hydrograph of surface runoff resulting from 4.5 cm of rainfall excess of duration 8
h in a catchment are as follows:

Determine the ordinates of the 8-h unit hydrograph for this catchment.
(Answer: Ordinates of 8-h UH = (Given ordinates/4.5)
10. The ordinates of a 6-h unit hydrograph are given:

A storm had three successive 6-h intervals of rainfall magnitude of 3.0, 5.0 and 4.0 cm, respectively.
Assuming a Ø index of 0.20 cm/h and a base flow of 30 m 3/s, determine and plot the resulting
hydrograph of flow.
Answer:

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11. The ordinates of a 6-h unit hydrograph are as given below:

If two storms, each of 1-cm rainfall excess and 6-h duration occur in succession, calculate the
resulting hydrograph of flow. Assume base flow to be flow to be uniform at 10 m3/s.
Answer:

12. Using the 6-h unit hydrograph of Question 5 derive a 12-h unit hydrograph for the catchment.
Answer:

13. Characteristics of two catchments M and N measured from a map are given below:

For the 6-h unit hydrograph in catchment M, the peak discharge is at 200 m3/s and occurs at 37 h from
the start of the rainfall excess. Assuming the catchments M and N are meteorologically similar,
determine the elements of the 6-h synthetic unit hydrograph for catchment N by using Snyder’s
method.
Answer:
14. The 6-hour unit hydrograph of a basin is triangular in shape with a peak of 100 m 3/s occurring at 24-h
from the start. The base is 72-h.
a) What is the area of the catchment represented by this unit hydrograph?
b) Calculate the flood hydrograph due to a storm of rainfall excess of 2.0 cm during the first 6
hours and 4.0 cm during the second 6 hours interval. The base flow can be assumed to be
25 m3/s constant throughout.
Answer:
A = 1296 km2

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