CE322 Basic Hydrology

Jorge A. Ramirez
Precipitation Data Analysis - Interception and Depression Storage - Examples
1. The coordinates of four precipitation gauging stations are A = (3,4), B = (9,4), C =
(3,12), and D = (9,12). The oser!ed precipitation a"ounts at these gauges are #A
= 1$ "", #B = 23 "", #C = 1% "", #D = 19 "", respecti!e&'. These stations are
&ocated in a rectangu&ar asin (hose oundaries are defined ' the fo&&o(ing
coordinates (%,%), (14,%), (14,1)), (%,1)). Co"pute the "ean area& precipitation
o!er this asin using the Thiessen po&'gons "ethod and the arith"etic a!erage
"ethod.
(1)
(2)
*sing Thiessen po&'gons, the areas of inf&uence are AA = 4+, AB = )4, AC = 4+, AD = )4.
The asin area is Abasin = 224. Thus, the "ean area& precipitation is otained as-
MAP = (4+.224)1$ / ()4.224)23 / (4+.224)1% / ()4.224)19 = 10.3) ""
Arith"etic A!erage "ethod- 1A# = (1$ / 23 / 1% / 19).4 = 1).0$ ""
2. The precipitation a"ounts for the "onths of 2une, 2u&', and August are "issing fro"
the record for one gauging station in a asin. This station e&ongs to a net(or3 of four in
that asin. 4or those three "onths, the other three stations recorded the fo&&o(ing-

5tation

1 2 3
2une
$$ )$ 0$
2u&'
40 $% 4$
August
4$ 4% $$
6sti"ate the "issing precipitation !a&ues if the &ong7ter" annua& a!erage precipitation at
the four stations is-

5tation

1 2 3 4
2une
)% )$ 0% )0
2u&'
$% $$ )$ )%
August
4$ 40 )% $$
*se the 8or"a& 9atio 1ethod,
(3)
2une- Px = (()0.)%)$$/()0.)$))$/()0.0%)0$).3 = )).03
2u&'- Px = (()%.$%)40/()%.$$)$%/()%.)$)4$).3 = $%.+3
August- Px = (($$.4$)4$/($$.40)4%/($$.)%)$$).3 = $%.04
3. Assu"e that a rainfa&& e!ent of intensit' 1.2$ c".h fa&&s o!er a unifor"&' forested
(atershed of area 2% 3"
2
. :f the on&' (ater &osses during this e!ent are those due to
interception, co"pute the !o&u"e of (ater that &ea!es the asin as stor" runoff for a 17
hour and a 27hour rainfa&&. :nterception !o&u"e as a function of precipitation !o&u"e P is
gi!en ',
(4)
Assu"e that K is 1.$, S is %.2 c" and that the e!aporation rate is ;ero.
a. Co"pute tota& precipitation !o&u"e-
# = (1.2$ c".h) (1 h) = 1.2$ c"
# = (1.2$ c".h) (2 h) = 2.$ c"
*se e<uation 4 to otain-
Li = (%.2 c") (1 7 e=p(71.2$.%.2)) = %.199) c"
Li = (%.2 c") (1 7 e=p(72.$.%.2)) = %.2 c"
Assu"ing that there is no change in asin storage, then the output of the asin is e<ua& to-
>o&u"e of ?utput = (P - Li)*Abasin = ((1.2$ cm 7 %.199) cm).1%% cm/m ) (2% 1%
)
m

) =
21%,%+%.% m
!
>o&u"e of ?utput = (P - Li)*Abasin = ((2.$% cm 7 %.2 cm).1%% cm/m ) (2% 1%
)
m

) =
4)%,%%%.% m
!
4. 9epeat #ro&e" 3 ut assu"ing that in addition to interception there are a&so &osses due
to depression storage. The depression storage e<uation is-
($)
Assu"e that S" is %.2 c". @hat is the runoff ratio for these conditionsA Bo( "uch runoff
(ou&d ha!e een produced ha&f(a' into the stor"A
Pe # P - Li = 1.%$%4 c". Thus, $ = (%.2 c") (1 7 e=p(71.%$%4.%.2)) = %.19+9 c"
Pe # P - Li = 2.3 c". Thus, $ = (%.2 c") (1 7 e=p(72.3.%.2)) = %.2 c"
Again, assu"ing that there is no change in asin storage, then the output of the asin is
e<ua& to-
>o&u"e of ?utput = (Pe - $)*Abasin = ((1.%$%4 cm 7 %.19+9 cm).1%% cm/m ) (2% 1%
)
m

) =
10%,3%%.% m
!
>o&u"e of ?utput = (Pe - $)*Abasin = ((2.3% cm 7 %.2 cm).1%% cm/m ) (2% 1%
)
m

) =
42%,%%%.% m
!