College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Agricultural
and Biosystems Engineering
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telephone: (053) 525-0140 local 1015
Email: dabe@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

ABEn 145 – FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

2nd Semester, AY 2021 – 2022

Laboratory Report No. 3

AVERAGING PRECIPITATION OVER AN AREA

Name: Lhilac T. Atun Date Submitted: December 13, 2021

Laboratory Schedule: A143 TH 1:00 – 4:00 pm

I. Introduction

All liquid or frozen water that develops in the atmosphere and drops back to the ground
is referred to as precipitation. Rain, hail, and snow are just only few examples.
Precipitation, together with evaporation and condensation, is one of the three major
components of the global water cycle. Precipitation on the earth surface represents
approximately a third of total global precipitation. Evaporation from the land accounts for
10% of precipitation on the land surface, whereas evaporation from the ocean accounts
for 90%. The amount of precipitation that can be expected for the entire place is the
average precipitation over an area. One of the most basic methods is to add all of the
stations' precipitation and divide it by the number of stations in the area. The most
common instrument used to measure precipitation is a precipitation gauge, also known
as a rain gauge. We will learn how relevant is the average precipitation in this laboratory
exercise because if we know the average precipitation over an area, calculating the total
amount of rainfall received by that area will be quite simple.

II. Objectives

1. To evaluate an areal precipitation using different methodologies employed in the

course;
2. To know the advantages and disadvantages of each method for averaging
precipitation over an area; and,
3. To apply the various methods of doing areal precipitation in a given problems/situation.

III. Activities

1. Outline the procedure for determining areal precipitation using;

1.1. Arithmetic mean method
1.2. Thiessen method
1.3. Isohyetal method
2. Make a list of the different advantages and disadvantages of using each of the
methods. DO this in tabular form.
3. Given the following problem, determine the areal precipitation using the three
methods.

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 2 of 8

4. The figures and tables below show the given amount of precipitation as well as the
Thiessen and isohyetal areas. Find the mean areal depth of rainfall using the three
methods.

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
 ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 3 of 8

5. Using the data given, plot the maximum depth-area-duration curve.

IV. Discussion and Computation

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 4 of 8

1. Outline the procedure for determining areal precipitation using;

1.1 Arithmetic mean method

Procedures:
• Using this method, the annual precipitation values are gathered from several stations
in the area.
• Then divide the entire number of stations by the sum of all annual precipitation.
• Using the most basic method, we can calculate the average precipitation value for that
catchment region.

The average precipitation over a given area can be determined by using the following
formula:

Where:
Pi = precipitation of each station
n = number of stations

1.2 Thiessen method

The following are the steps of drawing a polygon:

• The stations must be marked (in the shape of a dot) on the map which is drawn to
scale.
• A dashed line is required to connect the stations.
• Out of the dashed lines, make a perpendicular bisector.
• Each station will be surrounded by bisector polygons. The boundary lines will serve as
the polygons' closing limit for stations near the border.

Figure 1. Polygons formed by perpendicular bisectors. (source: Raghunath,

Planimeter, dot grid technique, or GIS software can be used to calculate the area of each
polygon formed. The equation for calculating mean areal precipitation is:

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 5 of 8

where:
Pi = precipitation of each station
Ai = relative area of each station by the polygon
n = number of stations
A = total area (area of the boundary)

1.3 Isohyetal method

• There is a line that indicates the same amount of precipitation in this method.
• The area between two consecutive isohyets is calculated, followed by the weighted
average precipitation for each segment and finally the average precipitation for the
entire basin.

The typical Isohyetal map:

Procedures:
• Choose an appropriate and consistent scale for the X and Y axes.
• Then draw the catchment area's boundary and each station's placement.
• State how much rain has fallen at each station.
• Determine an appropriate contour interval and number of isohyets.
• Draw isohyets between stations using linear interpolation.
• Calculate the distance between two adjacent isohyets.
• Compute the product as Pi*Ai.
• Finally, using this formula, calculate the average precipitation.

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 6 of 8

Where:
𝑃1−2 = average precipitation from the station of the same isohyets
𝐴1−2 = area between isohyets
n = number of isohyets
A = total area (area of the boundary)

2. Make a list of the different advantages and disadvantages of using each of the methods.
DO this in tabular form.

Method Advantage Disadvantage

Arithmetic mean 1. This is the easiest and 1. A limited number of stations
simplest method of calculating that do not contain any physical
average rainfall. rational or method might skew the
2. This method is equally perspective of a watershed,
accurate if the recording stations causing major issues at large or
and rainfall are evenly distributed tiny values, or when the average
across the entire catchment. becomes large or small in
3. Each station, regardless of its compared to observed values.
location, has the equal weight. 2.
Not suitable for mountainous
terrain or if the rain gauges are
distributed unevenly.
Thiessen 1. The mean rainfall of the basin 1. The method's greatest
is calculated using rainfall disadvantage is its inflexibility,
stations positioned a small which necessitates the creation of
distance beyond the drainage a new Thiessan diagram every
border. time the station network changes.
2.It's a preferred used for flat and
low-rough terrain.
3.No physical process
(orography, elevation, angles,
direction, etc.) is represented.
4.Since each rain gauge station
is given some weightage, it is
found to be superior to the
arithmetical averaging method.
Isohyetal 1. It is the most suitable method 1. It's difficult, time-consuming,
for mountainous and hilly areas. mind-numbing, and entirely
2. If the lines are drawn correctly, subjective.
it is the most accurate method. 2. It demands extensive
3. When the quantity of rain knowledge of the watershed's
gauge stations is large, this physical properties.
method is believed to be better to
the previous methods.

3. Given the following problem, determine the areal precipitation using the three methods.
(excluded)
4. The figures and tables below show the given amount of precipitation as well as the Thiessen
and isohyetal areas. Find the mean areal depth of rainfall using the three methods.

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 7 of 8

Arithmetic Average Method Calculation:

Station A B C D E F G H
Rainfall 9.3 10.5 10.9 12.2 13.5 14.0 14.2 12.8

∑𝑃
PAVE =
𝑛
9.3+10.5+10.9+12.2+13.5+14.0+14.2+12.8
=
8

PAVE = 12.175 cm, the mean areal depth of rainfall.

Theissen Polygon Method:

Station Rainfall (Pi) Area of Polygon Ai Pi

cm (Ai) km2 * cm
km2
A 9.3 170 1581
B 10.5 164 1722
C 10.9 156 1700.4
D 12.2 150 1830
E 13.5 116 1566
F 14.0 36 504
G 14.2 124 1760.8
H 12.8 42 537.6
Total (n=8) 97.4 958 11138.8

∑𝑛
𝑖=1 𝑃 𝐴
P = ∑𝐴
11201.8
=
958
P = 11.693 cm, the mean areal depth of rainfall.

Isohyetal Method:

Zone Isohyets, Mean Area P1-2 x A1-2

cm isohyetal between (cm * km2 )
value, P1-2 isohyets,
cm A1-2 km2
I <4 3.6 56 201.6
II 4-6 5.3 192 1017.6
III 6-8 7.3 420 3066
IV 8-10 9.13 244 2227.72
V <10 0 44 0
VI <6 5.5 58 319
Total 1014 6831.92

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
 ABEn 145 | Laboratory Exercise No. 3 Page 8 of 8

∑𝑛
𝑖=1 𝑃 𝐴 6831.92
PAVE = ∑𝐴
=
1014

PAVE = 6.738 cm, the mean areal depth of rainfall.

5. Using the data given, plot the maximum depth-area-duration curve.

Maximum Depth-Area-Duration Curve

1000
Average Rainfall (mm)

800

600

400 y = -0.0027x + 666.9

R² = 0.5509
200

0
0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000
-200
Area (km2)

V. Conclusion

Precipitation has a wide range of environmental benefits, including restocking wild

plants, moistening the air, making streams and rivers, replenishing the water table,
producing particularly helpful negative ions and in the production of agricultural crops.
Precipitation is extremely beautiful, but there is no such thing as too much of anything in
the world that is always beautiful. Rain is getting a lot more of a bad rap these days. The
unwanted burden component of weather-sensitive activities, such as flooding, landslides,
and changing water quality. Finally, I learned from this laboratory activity that knowing and
understanding the average precipitation is important. Calculating the total quantity of
rainfall received by an area will be simple if you know the average precipitation across that
area.

VI. References

D, M. (n.d.). Geography Notes. Retrieved from Measuring the Average Depth of Rainfall: 3
Methods | Atmosphere | Geography: https://www.geographynotes.com/rainfall-
2/measuring-the-average-depth-of-rainfall-3-methods-atmosphere-geography/4715

Sen, S. (n.d.). Calculating Average Depth of Precipitation: 3 Methods. Retrieved from Your
Article Library: https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/water/precipitation/calculating-
average-depth-of-precipitation-3-methods/60452

Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.