ECW 557/431:

ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY

SURFACE RUNOFF

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WEEK 5 – SURFACE RUNOFF
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the week, students should
be able to:
o explain rainfall-runoff correlation, type of
stream, storm hydrograph(CO1)
o analyse recession curve of a storm
hydrograph (CO2);
o perform baseflow separation to obtain
direct runoff hydrograph (CO2).
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 Runoff
Surface runoff is the draining of precipitation from a
catchment through a channel, thus representing the
output in a given time period.
It is the net precipitation after deducting all losses.

P–L=R (assuming S=0)

a.k.a. direct runoff (DR), rainfall excess (RE) or

effective rainfall (ER)
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 Rainfall-Runoff Analysis
- Inter-relationship dependent on: R = CP
• precipitation (climatic factor-T, amount of
water vapor), and
• basin characteristics (physical factor).
- Inter-relationship is usu. poor for short term
observations, but improves as time period
increases.
- Complexity increases with heterogeneity of
watershed, e.g. surface type, vegetation,
topography, geology etc, incl. partial area effect.
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 Runoff generation
Precipitation

surface runoff/overland flow

infiltration

percolation
groundwater
flow
interflow 5
Source: iweb.tntech.edu/fhossain/CEE4420/Lecture_streamflow_estimation.ppt
 Detention & Retention
Overland flow

Surface
detention
water
retention

Surface depression
Infiltration

Interflow
Unsaturated zone
detention
Subsurface
water

Baseflow
Groundwater
retention

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Runoff generation (cont’d)

Flood/storm event
base (dry weather) flow

Total
Runoff

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8
 Hydrograph
A graph (or table) showing the flow rate as a
function of time at a given location on the stream.

a.k.a. Q

•storm hydrograph
•discharge hydrograph
•streamflow hydrograph
•runoff hydrograph t

•flood hydrograph Influences by: Overland flow,

groundwater flow, slope of overland,
K, geometry of channel & etc. 9
 Total Runoff

Rainfall excess
hyetograph

Direct runoff Total runoff

+ Baseflow = hydrograph
hydrograph
Q Q Q

time time time

Total Runoff = Direct Runoff + Baseflow

Direct runoff = runoff enters the stream immediately (direct

rainfall&overflow land).
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Baseflow = delayed flow reaches a stream as groundwater flow.
 Annual Hydrograph
A hydrograph plotted over a period of one year,
showing long-term balance of precipitation,
evaporation and streamflow in a watershed.

There are three (3) distinct types of annual

hydrographs which can be observed in different
streams:
• Perennial stream
• Intermittent stream
• Ephemeral stream

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TYPE of STREAM

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 Perennial Stream
• have a continuous flow regime typically of a well-
defined channel in a humid climate.

time

• long recession time

• dependable yield
• effluent stream Humid climate - typical vegetation is forest/
also known as forest climate 13
 Intermittent Stream
• generally have flow during the wet season.

time

• shorter recession time

• limited yield mainly from surface runoff
• influent/ effluent stream
• stream remains dry over the dry months
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 Ephemeral Stream
• typically in arid zone (@dry zone)
• generally have flow only during and, for a short
period, after storms.

time

• spikes
• no baseflow, not dependable
• influent stream
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 Yield
= The total quantity of water that can be expected
from a stream in a given period, usu. a year
= The stream flow under natural condition without
human intervention

• a.k.a annual runoff volume, virgin flow

Virgin flow, RN = Measured + Diverted – Returned

flow,Ro flow,Vd flow,Vr

Equation 5.1, see example 5.1 pg 141

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 Storm Hydrograph
• Short-term runoff phenomenon

Peak/ crest
Q

Rising limb Falling limb

(concentration curve) (recession/ depletion curve)

t
Time to peak
Beginning of rainfall 18
 tc Storm Hydrograph
D
D = rainfall duration
*L Rainfall
tpk = time to peak
tb = time base
Q
tc = time of concentration
Point of
inflection/max L = lag time
storage
* tr * centre of mass
tr = recession time

tpk

Beginning of rainfalltb 19
Components of Hydrograph pg 198
 Time of concentration, tc
= longest time for water to flow to the outlet,
i.e. the time required for 100% of the watershed area
to contribute to surface runoff

Outlet

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 Point of inflection
= the point of time when direct runoff ceased to
contribute to the discharge, i.e. beyond this time, flow is
due to interflow and baseflow only

Q
Overland flow/ direct runoff
Point of
inflection

Interflow
end
begin Baseflow
t
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 Hydrograph Analysis
Hydrograph analysis is important where
• storage of catchment is significant
• catchment is nonhomogenous
Otherwise, estimate of peak discharge is sufficient.

Qp

tp t

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 Hydrograph Shapes
Physiographic factors Climatic factors

• watershed: shape, size, slope, • storm: intensity, magnitude,

surface, interception duration, movement
• infiltration: soil permeability, • evapotranspiration
antecedent moisture content
• channel: size, roughness,
slope, storage, density

affects recession curve affects rising limb

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 Climatic Factors:
Time variation of rainfall intensity

A B
Q
Q

Time Time

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 Climatic Factors:
Effect of storm size

Storm A Storm B

Storm B

Storm A

Time

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 Climatic Factors:
Effect of storm movement

B
A to B

Q
B to A
Storm
movement

A
Time

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 Physiographic Factors

A: peak earlier, larger

A Steep watershed slope
Less storage
Q B High drainage density
Smooth channel
Shorter channel
B: peak later, lower
Gentle watershed slope
More storage
Time
Low drainage density
Rough channel
Longer channel

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 Direct Runoff Hydrograph

Rainfall excess

Q
* tc
excess rainfall release time
L
Inflection point
tp
tr

* tb

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HYDROGRAPH CHARACTERISTICS

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 Recession Curve
Recession/ depletion represents the withdrawal of water from the
storage which built up in the basin during the earlier phases of the
hydrograph. Recession limb extends from the point of inflection at
the end of the crest segment to the commencement of the natural
groundwater flow
Behavior independent of storm, dependent on basin.

Q Maximum storage
Direct runoff in basin
inflection

Interflow
end
begin Baseflow
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t
 Recession Curve pg 200

Qt Q 0 K rt Recession of a storage can be expressed as

where Q0 = initial discharge
Qt = discharge after t days
Kr = recession constant/coeff. (<1.0)
Krs = 0.05 to 0.20 (for surface storage)
and Kr = Krs.Kri.Krb Kri = 0.50 to 0.85 (for interflow)
Krb = 0.85 to 0.99 (for baseflow)

Kr recession time ; Kr = 1, independent

log Qt  log Q0  t log K r

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 Recession analysis procedures

Q vs t on semi-log paper
Draw best straight line to represent baseflow
Determine Q0, Qt and t from straight line1
Calculate Krb
Calculate surface flow as (total flow – baseflow)
Plot surface flow (obtained straight line2)
Determine Q0, Qt and t from straight line2
Calculate Krs

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 Example 6.1 pg.200
Q (log scale) 1 4.0
log K rb  log( )
2 6.6
Qt Q 0 K rt 26.0 1 2.25
log K rs  log( )
1 Qt 2 26.0
log K r  log( ) Q0
t Q0 6.6
Qt 4.0
2.25

t0 = 1 t= 3 t (days) 33
BASE FLOW SEPARATION

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 Baseflow
The quick-response surface runoff incorporates
overland flow, interflow and channel direct
precipitation, and it is the most significant
component in a hydrograph.
Baseflow is analyzed separately because it behaves
quite differently in character from surface runoff.
The baseflow usually finished at a higher level at the
end of the storm and thus there is enhanced river
flow from groundwater storage after a significant
rainfall event.

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 Baseflow Separation
Direct runoff + = Total runoff
Baseflow
hydrograph hydrograph

Total runoff Direct runoff

hydrograph - Baseflow = hydrograph

Q Q Q

t t t

Objective: Separate quick response & slow response flow

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 METHOD TO IDENTIFY
BASE FLOW SEPARATION
POINT

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 Separation Point: Method 1

log Q Q
Total runoff
hydrograph

t
baseflow
Separation point

surface runoff

t 39
 Separation Point: Method 2 (option)

log Q

hydrograph Separation point

Q
baseflow

surface runoff
t

t 40
 Separation Point: Method 3
Fixed Base Length Method

Q N = 0.83A0.2 (days)
Peak
A = watershed area (km2)

Separation point

t
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 Separation Point: Method 4 (option)
Master Depletion Curve (Annual Hydrograph)

Q
logQ

t
Separation point

Master depletion curve

t
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 Master Depletion Curve
Annual Hydrograph
4
Q 5
3 6 8
2 7
1

44
 Master Depletion Curve
Annual Hydrograph
4
Q 5
3 6 8
2 7
1

Recession Curve

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 Master Depletion Curve

1
logQ 2
3
4 5
6
7
8

Master depletion curve

t
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 Master depletion curve method, where individual recession
curves are plotted in order of increasing minimum discharge,
each successive curve begins along visual extension of
previous curve. See McCuen (2004, sec. 9.2.4).

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METHOD TO CALCULATE
BASE FLOW SEPARATION
FROM TOTAL RUNOFF
HYDROGRAPH

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Separation: Straight Line Method (I)

Separation point

(i) Constant baseflow

t
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Separation: Concave-Baseflow Method (II)
Most commonly used – baseflow cont. to deplete till peak

Q Peak

Separation point

extrapolate

t
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 Separation: Variable Slope Method (III)
Most realistic.

Q Peak

Inflection point

extrapolate
Separation point

extrapolate

t
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 Separation: Variable Slope Method (IV)
OR ( when GW reach the stream quickly)

Q Peak

Inflection point

extrapolate
Separation point

t
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The separation methods are arbitrary.
Selection is depends on local practice.
Always stick to the same method for consistency.

Example 6.2, 6.3

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 Example 6.2, pg 203
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 -index

t (h) Q (m3/s) Q (m3/s)

-6 6 30
0 5 25
6 13
20
12 26
18 21 15
24 16 10
30 12
5
36 9
42 7 0
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
48 5
54 5
60 4.5
66 4.5
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 Example 6.2, pg 203
t (h) Q (m3/s) Qb (m3/s) DRH (m3/s)
0 5 5 0
6 13 5 8
12 26 5 21
18 21 5 16
24 16 5 11
30 12 5 7
36 9 5 4
42 7 5 2
48 5 5 0
54 5 5 0
60 4.5 4.5 0
66 4.5 4.5 0
Sum of ordinate 69

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 Example 6.2, pg 203

DRH (m3/s)
25

20

15

10

0
0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
-5

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 Example 6.2, pg 203
Area below the graph
= Volume of runoff (rainfall excess)
1 1 1
 (8)m3 /s (6  3600)s  (8  21)m3 /s (6  3600)s  (21  16)m3 /s (6  3600)s 
2 1 2 1 2
...  (4  2)m /s (6  3600)s  (2)m /s (6  3600)s
3 3

2
Trapezoidal concept 2
 (6  3600)s  (8)  (8  21)  (21  16)  (16  11)  ...  (4  2)  (2) m3 /s
1
2
 (6  3600)s  8  21  16  11  ...  4  2 m3 /s

 t  Ordinates 
DRH (m3/s)
25

20

15

10

0
0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
-5

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