MODULE 6

ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION
Conversion of Point Rainfall to Areal Rainfall

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Determine the average areal precipitation by using arithmetic average method and weighted average
method

3.2 Conversion of Point Precipitation to Areal Precipitation

The representative precipitation over a defined area is required in engineering applications, whereas
the gaged observation pertains to point precipitation. The areal precipitation is computed from the record
of a group of rain gages within the area by the following methods.

1. Arithmetic or station average method

2. Weighted average method
a. Thiessen polygon method
b. Isohyetal method

3.2.1 Arithmetic Average Method

The arithmetic-mean method is the simplest method of determining areal average rainfall. It involves
averaging the rainfall depths recorded at a number of gages. This method is satisfactory if the gages are
uniformly distributed over the area and the individual gage measurements do not vary greatly about the
mean.

∑ 𝑷𝒏
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑷 =
𝒏

Example 1:
Calculate the mean areal depth of rainfall using Arithmetic Average
Method.

Solution:

∑𝑃
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝑛

𝑃 + 𝑃 + 𝑃 +⋯+ 𝑃
𝑃 =
𝑛

1.8 𝑖𝑛 + 1.2 𝑖𝑛 + 1.0 𝑖𝑛

𝑃 =
3

𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟑 𝒊𝒏
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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
Example 2:
Given with the following data. Calculate the mean areal depth of rainfall using Arithmetic Average Method.

Solution:

∑𝑃
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝑛

𝑃 + 𝑃 + 𝑃 + ⋯+𝑃
𝑃 =
𝑛

8.8. +7.60 + 10.80 + 9.20 + 13.80 + 10.40 + 8.50 + 10.50 + 11.20 + 9.50 + 7.80 + 5.60
𝑃 =
12

𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝟗. 𝟒𝟕𝟓 𝒄𝒎

3.2.2 Thiessen Polygon Method

If some gages are considered more representative of the area in question than others, then relative
weights may be assigned to the gages in computing the areal average. The Thiessen method assumes that
at any point in the watershed the rainfall is the same as that at the nearest gage so the depth recorded at a
given gage is applied out to a distance halfway to the next station in any direction.

The relative weights for each gage are determined from the corresponding areas of application in a
Thiessen polygon network, the boundaries of the polygons being formed by the perpendicular bisectors of
the lines joining adjacent gages.

These polygons are formed as follows:

1. The stations are plotted on a map of the area drawn to a scale.

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
 2. The adjoining stations are connected by dashed lines.
3. Perpendicular bisectors are constructed on each of these dashed lines, as shown by the solid lines.
4. These bisectors form polygons around each station. Each polygon is representative of the
effective area for the station within the polygon. For stations close to the boundary, the boundary
forms the closing limit of the polygons.
5. The area of each polygon is determined* and then multiplied by the rainfall value for the station
within the polygon.
6. The sum of item 5 divided by the total drainage area provides the weighted average precipitation.

* This is done by a graphic tool like AutoCAD or a planimeter or, alternatively, by drawing the figure
to a scale on graph paper, counting the total number of squares covered by the polygon, and multiplying by
the square of the map scale.

If there are / gages, and the area within the watershed assigned to each is Aj and Pj is the rainfall
recorded at the 7th gage, the areal average precipitation for the watershed is

𝑱
𝟏
𝑷= 𝑨𝒋 𝑷𝒋
𝑨
𝒋 𝟏

The Thiessen method is generally more accurate than the arithmetic mean method, but it is inflexible,
because a new Thiessen network must be constructed each time there is a change in the gage network, such
as when data is missing from one of the gages. Also, the Thiessen method does not directly account for
orographic influences on rainfall.

Example 3:

Estimate the mean aerial rainfall using the Thiessen Polygon Method.

Pj Area (mi2)
2.0 1.5
1.8 7.2
1.2 5.2
1.0 9.8

Solution:

Pj Area (mi2) 𝑨 𝒋 ⁄𝑨 𝑻 𝑷𝒋(𝑨𝒋 ⁄𝑨𝑻 )

2.0 1.5 0.064 0.13
1.8 7.2 0.305 0.55
1.2 5.2 0.216 0.26
1.0 9.8 0.415 0.42
Total Watershed Area (𝐴 ) = 23.6 mi2
𝑃 = 𝑃𝑗(𝐴 ⁄𝐴 )
𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓 𝒊𝒏

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
Example 4:
Estimate the mean aerial rainfall using the Thiessen Polygon Method.

Station Observed Area (km2) Weighted

Rain fall Rainfall, 𝑨𝒋 𝑷𝒋
(mm) (mm)
𝑃 10.0 0.22 2.2
𝑃 20.0 4.02 80.4
𝑃 30.0 1.35 40.5
𝑃 40.0 1.60 64.0
𝑃 50.0 1.95 97.5
Total 9.14 284.6

1
𝑃= 𝐴𝑃
𝐴

284.6
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
9.14
𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝟑𝟏. 𝟏 𝒎𝒎

Example 5:
See Video Link

Example 6:

Thiessen polygon method of computing average areal precipitation.

Observed Area of Weighted Rainfall, 𝑨𝒋 𝑷𝒋 or

Rain fall (in) Polygon Precipitation x Area
(mi2) (column 1 x column 2)
2.1 735 1, 543.5
3.1 475 1, 472.5
5.2 640 3, 328.0
3.8 620 2, 356.0
5.4 740 3, 996.0
3.3 685 2, 260.5
4.5 1210 5, 445.0
Total 5,105 20, 401.5

20, 401.5
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
5, 105
𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆 = 𝟒. 𝟎 𝒊𝒏

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
3.2.3 Isohyetal Method

The isohyetal method overcomes some of these difficulties by constructing isohyets, using observed
depths at rain gages and interpolation between adjacent gages. Where there is a dense network of rain gages,
isohyetal maps can be constructed using computer programs for automated contouring.

This is the most accurate of the three methods and provides a means of considering the orographic
(mountains) effect. The procedure is as follows:

1. The stations and rainfall values are plotted on a map to a suitable scale.
2. The contours of equal precipitation (isohyets) are drawn. The accuracy depends on the construction
of the isohyets and their intervals.
3. The area between successive isohyets is computed and multiplied by the numerical average of the
two contour (isohyets) values.
4. The sum of item 3 divided by the drainage area provides the weighted average precipitation.

The average precipitation is then computed using the formula:

𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 𝑷 + 𝑷𝟑 𝑷𝒏 + 𝑷𝒏
𝒂𝟏 + 𝒂𝟐 𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝒂𝒏 𝟏(
𝟏
)
𝑷= 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝑨

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
Example 7:

The isohyets due to a storm in a catchment together with the area of the catchment bounded by the isohyets
are given below. Estimate the mean precipitation due to the storm using Isohyetal Method.

Isohyets ( depth of Area (km2)

contour)
16 – 15 cm 90
15 – 14 cm 100
14 – 15 cm 110
13 – 12 cm 30

Solution:

Isohyets ( depth of Area (km2) Pave (cm) 𝑨/𝑨𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 Weighted P

contour) (cm)
16 – 15 cm 90 15.5 0.2727 4.227
15 – 14 cm 100 14.5 0.303 4.394
14 – 15 cm 110 13.5 0.3333 4.5
13 – 12 cm 30 12.5 0.0909 1.136
Total 330 ≈𝟏 14.257

𝑃 +𝑃 𝑃 +𝑃 𝑃 +𝑃
𝑎 +𝑎 + ⋯+ 𝑎 ( )
𝑃= 2 2 2
𝐴

𝑷 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟐𝟓𝟕 𝒄𝒎

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
Example 8:

The isohyets due to a storm in a catchment together with the area of the catchment bounded by the isohyets
are given below. Estimate the mean precipitation due to the storm using Isohyetal Method.

Isohyets ( depth of Area (km2)

contour) cm
>10 20
10 – 9 75
9–8 100
8–7 50
7–6 40
<6 10

Solution:

Isohyets ( depth of Area (km2) Pave (cm) 𝑨/𝑨𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 Weighted P

contour) cm (cm)
>10 20 10 0.0678 0.678
10 – 9 75 9.5 0.2542 2.415
9–8 100 8.5 0.339 2.882
8–7 50 7.5 0.1695 1.271
7–6 40 6.5 0.1356 0.881
<6 10 6 0.0339 0.203
Total 295 1 8.33

𝑃 +𝑃 𝑃 +𝑃 𝑃 +𝑃
𝑎 +𝑎 + ⋯+ 𝑎 ( )
𝑃= 2 2 2
𝐴

𝑷 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟑 𝒄𝒎

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
Example 9:

Given a 300km2 watershed with 10 rain gauge stations below. Compute the mean precipitation using
Isohyetal Method.

Solution:

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6
 Isohyets ( depth of Number of 𝑨/𝑨𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
contour) squares
19 – 18 cm 15.45 0.203
18 – 17 cm 28.95 0.38
17 – 16 cm 16 0.21
16 – 15 cm 15.7 0.206
76.1 ≈𝟏

Isohyets ( depth of Area Pave 𝑨/𝑨𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 Weighted P

contour) (cm)
19 – 18 cm 18.5 0.203 3.756
18 – 17 cm 17.5 0.38 6.65
17 – 16 cm 16.5 0.21 3.465
16 – 15 cm 15.5 0.206 3.193
≈𝟏 17.064

𝑷 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟎𝟔𝟒 𝒄𝒎

Isohyets ( depth of Area (km^2)

contour)
19 – 18 cm 60.9
18 – 17 cm 114
17 – 16 cm 63
16 – 15 cm 61.8
≈ 𝟑𝟎𝟎

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UNIT 3: ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION HYDROLOGY MODULE 6