HYDROGRAPH

Definition of Hydrograph

 The hydrograph, 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.
 The hydrograph is the response of a given catchment to a rainfall input. It consists of flow
in all the three phases of runoff, viz. surface runoff, interflow and base flow and embodies
in itself the integrated effects of a wide variety of catchment and rainfall parameters having
complex interactions.

Factors affecting Flood Hydrograph

Elements of a Hydrograph

Hydrograph has three 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
Components of a Hydrograph

Rising Limb

 The rising limb f a hydrograph, also known as concentration curve represents the increase
in discharge due to the gradual building up of storage in channel and over the catchment
surface. The initial losses and high infiltration losses during the early period of a storm
cause the discharge to rise rather slowly in the initial periods. The basin and storm
characteristics control the shape of the rising limb of a hydrograph.

Crest Segment

 The crest segment is one of the most important parts of hydrograph as it contains the peak
flow. The peak now occurs when the runoff from various parts of the catchment
simultaneously contribute amounts to achieve the maximum amount of flow at the basin
outlet. Generally, for large catchments, the peak flow occurs after the cessation of rainfa ll,
the time interval from the center of mass of rainfall to the peak being essentially controlled
by basin and storm characteristics. Multiple-peaked complex 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 to the commencement of the natural groundwater flow, represents the
withdrawal of water from the storage built up in the basin during the earlier phase of the
hydrograph. The starting point of the recession limb, i.e. the point of inflection represents
the condition of maximum storage. 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.
Time Base of Hydrograph (TB) - It is the time from the beginning to the end of the direct runoff.

Lag Time (TL) - It is the difference in time between the center of mass of net rainfall and center
of mass runoff.

Time to Peak (TP ) - It is the time difference between the beginnings of direct runoff

Rainfall Duration (Tr) - It is the effective rainfall duration, which causes direct runoff. Curve
between point M and A represents recession from previous storm.

Base Flow Separation

The surface-flow hydrograph is obtained from the total storm hydrograph by separating the
quick-response flow from the slow response runoff. It is usual to consider the interflow as a part
of the surface flow in view of its quick response. Thus only the base flow is to be deducted from
the total storm hydrograph to obtain the surface flow hydrograph.

 Method I
o 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.
o In the figure, point A represents the beginning of the direct runoff off and it is
usually easy to identify in view of the sharp change in the runoff rate at that point.
Point B, marking the end of the direct runoff is rather difficult to locate exactly.
 o An empirical equation for the time interval N (days) from the peak to the point B
is

𝑁 = 0.83𝐴0.2

o Where A is drainage area in km2 and N is in days. Points A and B are joined by a
straight line to demarcate to the base flow and surface runoff. This method of base-
flow separation is the simplest of all the three methods.
 Method II
o In this method, the base flow curve existing prior to the commencement of the
surface runoff is extended until it intersects the ordinate drawn at the peak. 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.

 Method III
o 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. Points
A and F are joined by an arbitrary smooth curve. This method of base-flow
separation is realistic in situations where the groundwater contributions are
significant and reach the stream quickly.
Effective Rainfall Hyetograph

 Effective rainfall (also known as Excess rainfall) (ER) is that part of the rainfall that
becomes direct runoff at the outlet of the watershed. It is thus the total rainfall in a given
duration from which abstractions such as infiltration and initial losses are subtracted.
 For purposes of correlating DRH with the rainfall which produced the flow, the hyetograph
of the rainfall is also pruned by deducting the losses. The figure 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). It is also known as excess
rainfall hyetograph.

 Both DRH and ERH represent the same total quantity but in different units. Since ERH is
usually in cm/h plotted agains1 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. Their nitia l
loss and infiltration losses are estimated based on the available data of the catchment.

EXAMPLE: A 4-hour storm occurs over an 80 km2 watershed. The details of the
catchment are as follows. Determine the total runoff
Sub Area 𝜑 index Hourly rain (mm)
km2 mm/h 1st hour 2nd hour 3rd hour 4th hour
15 10 16 48 22 10
25 15 16 42 20 8
35 21 12 40 18 6
5 16 15 42 18 8

1st hour storm

Effective Col1 *
𝜑 index Rain for 1st
Area (km2) rainfall Col4
(mm/h) hour
(mm)
15 10 16 6 90
25 15 16 1 25
35 21 12 0 0
 5 16 15 0 0
90+25 𝑚𝑚/𝑘𝑚2
Effective rainfall = 80 𝑘𝑚2

= 1.4375 mm

2nd hour storm

Effective Col1 *
𝜑 index Rain for
Area (km2) rainfall Col4
(mm/h) 2nd hour
(mm)
15 10 48 38 570
25 15 42 27 675
35 21 40 19 665
5 16 42 26 130

570 +675 +665 +130 𝑚𝑚 /𝑘𝑚2

Effective rainfall =
80 𝑘𝑚2

= 25.5 mm

3rd hour storm

Effective Col1 *
𝜑 index Rain for 3rd
Area (km2) rainfall Col4
(mm/h) hour
(mm)
15 10 22 12 180
25 15 20 5 125
35 21 18 0 0
5 16 18 2 10

180 +125 +0+10 𝑚𝑚 /𝑘𝑚2

Effective rainfall = 80 𝑘𝑚2

= 3.9375 mm

4th hour storm

Effective Col1 *
𝜑 index Rain for 4th
Area (km2) rainfall Col4
(mm/h) hour
(mm)
15 10 10 0 0
25 15 8 0 0
35 21 6 0 0
5 16 8 0 0

10 𝑚𝑚/𝑘𝑚2
Effective rainfall = 80 𝑘𝑚2

= 0 mm

Total runoff = 1.4375 mm + 25.5 mm + 3.9375 mm

 = .030875 x 80 x 106

= 2.47 Mm3

Unit Hydrograph

 This method was first suggested by Sherman in 1932

 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 definition of a unit hydrograph implies the following:

 The unit hydrograph represents the lumped response or the catchment to a limit rainfa ll
excess of D-hduration to produce a direct-runoff hydrograph. It relates only the direct
runoff to the rainfall excess. Hence the volume of water contained in the unit hydrograph
must be equal to the rainfall excess. As 1 cm depth of rainfall excess is considered the area
of the unit hydrograph is equal to a volume given by 1cm over the catchment.

 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.

 The distribution of the storm is considered to be uniform all over the catchment.

 The response of the drainage basin is linear. This implies that the principles of
proportionality and superposition are applicable.
 o As per proportionality principle, the DRH ordinates are proportional to the effective
rainfall intensity.

o Similarly, as per superposition principle, DRH ordinates due to a complex storm,

having varying effective rainfall intensities, can be obtained by superimposing the
DRH due to each element of effective rainfall in succession.

 The unit hydrograph reflects the basic effects of various physical characteristics of the
basin, which do not change in time. This implies that the principle of time invarianc e is
valid.

 The definition of the UH together with these assumptions constitutes what is now called
the unit hydrograph theory.

 Since in practice, assumption (1) and (2) are never satisfied, these forms the limitations of
unit hydrograph theory.

 Unit hydrograph theory can be applied only for a basin having drainage area between 200
ha to 500,000 ha

EXAMPLE: 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:
Time (h) 0 5 13 21 28 32 35 41
Discharge (m3/s) 0 40 210 400 600 820 1150 1440
Time (h) 45 55 61 91 98 115 138
Discharge (m3/s) 1510 1420 1190 650 520 290 0

Time (h) DRH (m3/s) Excess Rainfall 8 – h UH (m3/s)/cm

(cm)
0 0 4.5 0
5 40 4.5 8.888888889
13 210 4.5 46.66666667
21 400 4.5 88.88888889
28 600 4.5 133.3333333
32 820 4.5 182.2222222
35 1150 4.5 255.5555556
41 1440 4.5 320
45 1510 4.5 335.5555556
55 1420 4.5 315.5555556
61 1190 4.5 264.4444444
91 650 4.5 144.4444444
98 520 4.5 115.5555556
115 290 4.5 64.44444444
138 0 4.5 0
Uses of hydrograph

1. Development of flood hydrograph for extreme rainfall magnitudes for use in the design of
hydraulic structures.

2. Extension of flood-flow records based on rainfall records.

3. Development of flood forecasting and warning systems based on rainfall.

Derivation of Unit Hydrograph

Derivation of Unit Hydrograph from a Simple Storm

Steps for derivation of UH

Step 1: Select an isolated storm hydrograph from recording stream gauge station.

Storm hydrographs used in the analysis should be selected so as to meet the following
desirable features with respect to the storms responsible for them:

1. The storms should be isolated storms occurring individually

2. The rainfall should be fairly uniform during the duration and should cover the entire
catchment area
3. The duration of rainfall should be 1/5 to 1/3 of the basin lag (TL)
4. The rainfall excess of the selected storm should be high (A range of ER values of
1.0 to 4.0 cm is preferred)

Step 2: Separate the base flow.

Step 3: Evaluate the area under Direct Runoff Hydrograph (DRH).

Step 4: Determine the volume of runoff.

Step 5: Find out the effective rainfall (ER).

Step 6: Determine the volume of runoff.

Step 7: Divide the ordinates of the various DRHs by the respective ER values to obtain the
ordinates of the Unit hydrograph.

EXAMPLE: A flood hydrograph of a river draining a catchment of 189 km2 due to a 6 h

isolated storm is in the form of a triangle with a base of 66 h and a peak ordinate of 30
m3/s occurring at 10 hours from the start. Assuming zero base flow, develop the 6-hour
unit hydrograph for this catchment.
 𝟏
Runoff volume = 𝟐 𝑩𝑯

𝟏
= 𝟐 𝟔𝟔𝒉 𝒙 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎𝒔 𝒙 𝟑𝟎 𝒎𝟑/𝒔

= 𝟑𝟓𝟔𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝟑

𝟑𝟓𝟔𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝟑
Excess rainfall = 𝟏𝟖𝟗 𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝒎𝟐

= 1.89 cm

𝟑𝟎 𝒎𝟑/𝒔
Peak of UH =
𝟏.𝟖𝟗𝒄𝒎

𝒎𝟑/𝒔
= 15.909 at 10h from the start
𝒄𝒎