Design No.

3
The names, locations by latitude and longitude and mean annual precipitations for certain
weather stations within and outside the catchment’s area are given below:

Name of Stations Latitude Longitude ( Mean Annual PPT.

(____º____) º____) (cm)

Estimate he average rainfall over the basin area by using following three methods.

i. Arithmetic Mean Method

ii. Thiessen Polygon Method
iii. Isohyetal Method
The boundary of the watershed is rectangular and is defined by following four coordinates:

A( )

B( )

C( )

D( )

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Related Theory

Average Precipitation over an Area

It is the amount of precipitation which can be assumed uniform for the entire area. By simplest
method, it can be obtained by adding the precipitations of all stations and dividing by the number
of stations in the area or outside the area closer to the boundary. The rain gauges used to measure
precipitation are shown in Figure 3.1.

Significance of Average Precipitation

If average precipitation over an area is known, then it is very easy to compute the total volume of
rainfall received by the area for nature. Rainfall volume = Area x Average precipitation.

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 Figure 3.1 Showing Rain Guages

Figure 3.2 showing Thiessen Polygon Method

Figure 3.3 showing Isohyetal Method

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Methods of Finding Average Precipitation over an Area

There are three common methods for averaging precipitation over an area.

i. Arithmetic Mean Method

ii. Thiessen Polygon Method
iii. Isohyetal Method

Arithmetic Mean Method

It is the simplest method of averaging precipitation over an area. This method is applicable
where precipitation gauging stations are more or less equally spaced and also precipitation
amounts do not vary significantly with each other.
The average precipitation over an area by arithmetic mean method is obtained as follows:

(3.1)

Where N is total number of stations and P1 is mean annual precipitation at ith station.

Table 3.1: Average Precipitation by Arithmetic Mean Method:-

No. of Stations Name of Stations Mean Annual PPT. (cm)

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Thiessen Polygon Method
The fundamental principle followed in this method consists of weighing the value of
precipitation at each station by a suitable proportion of basin area. Therefore ppt. data is plotted
over a map (graph). The Thiessen polygon map for a typical watershed is shown in Figure 3.2.

Procedure

1. Select suitable and same scale for X and Y-axis.

2. Plot catchment’s boundary and station locations.
3. Plot polygons around each strength by connection closest station by straight dashed
lines and drawing perpendicular bisectors to make the sides of polygon.
4. Determine area of each polygon by counting the number of squares.
5. Compute product (P1 A1) and sum all products.
6. Compute average precipitation using following equation.

(3.2)

Where, N is number of polygons within catchments, P1 is the mean annual precipitation for ith
polygon and A1 is the area of ith polygon.

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Table 3.2: Table of calculations for Thiessen Polygon Method:-

Sr. # Gauging Observed Area of Product (Pi

Stations Annual ppt., Polygon, Ai Ai)
Pi (cm) (min2) (mm min2)

Isohyetal Method
Isohyets
It is the line representing the same amount of precipitation. In Isohyetal method, area between
two consecutive isohyets is determined. Weighted average precipitation for each segment is
computed and then average precipitation for the entire basin is determined. The Isohyetal map
for a typical watershed is shown in Figure 3.3 and Isohyetal map for annual precipitation over
Pakistan is shown in Figure 3.1.

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Procedure
i. Select suitable and same scale for X and Y-axis.
ii. Plot catchment’s boundary and station locations.
iii. Mention precipitation amounts on each station.
iv. Select suitable contour interval and number of isohyets.
v. Draw isohyets by linear interpolation between stations.
vi. Determine area between two consecutive isohyets.
vii. Calculate product (Pi Ai).
viii. Compute average precipitation by formula.

(3.3)

Where, N is number of strips / segments, Pi is the mean precipitation for ith strip and Ai is the
area of ith strip.

Table 3.3: Table of Calculations For Isohyetal Method:-

Sr. # Isohyetal Mean ppt. (mm) Area of Strip (mm. min2)

Precipitation (min2)
(mm)

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Result

The average annual precipitation for the watershed is:

Pavg = mm by using mean arithmetic method.

Pavg = mm by using Thiessen polygon method.

Pavg = mm by using Isohyetal method.

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Comments

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 Design No. 4
Given below are data for a station rating curve. Extend the relation and estimate the flow
at a stage of (------m) by logarithmic and Chezy’s methods:

Sr. # Stage, H (m) Mean Depth, D X-Sec Area A Discharge, Q

(m) (m2) (m3/sec).

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Related Theory

Stage

Stage is the height of the water surface above an arbitrary datum. In Figure 4.1 stage (H) and
depth (d) are shown on a stream section.

Stage Gauge
The instrument used for measuring stage at a gauging station is called stage gauge. The staff
stage gauges at a stream gauging station are shown in Figure 4.2.

Types of Gauges
There are two main types of stage gauges, i.e. Non-recording stage gauges and recording gauges.

Non-recording stage gauges are those, which do not record the stage values automatically. The
examples are staff stage gauge, wire weigh gauge etc.

Figure 4.1: Conceptual diagram showing the measurement of stage in a stream.

Recording stage gauges keep the record of stages automatically for a particular duration of time
say one day. The example is the float type stage gauge.

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 Figure 4.2: Staff stage gauges at a stream gauging station.

Rating Curve

It is a graphical relationship between stage and discharge at a stream gauging station as shown in
Figure 4.3.

Flow (cumics)

Figure 4.3: A typical rating curve for a stream gauging station. Significance of Rating Curve

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 i. To get discharge value corresponding to any stage value.
ii. To determine stage values corresponding to various flows for the construction of
hydraulics structures.

Figure 4.4: Graphical procedure for the extension of rating curve using Logarithmic Method.

How a Rating Curve is established at a Site

It is plotted by taking simultaneous measurements of stage and discharge at different water levels
(stages) in the steam at a particular section. The cross sectional area of flow is divided in a
number of segments assigning that in a particular segment the velocity remains uniform in width.
Velocity of flow is measured in each segment with the help of current meter. Then discharge is
computed in each segment and total discharge is determined by integrating it for the entire cross
section.

Figure 4.5: Graphical procedure for the extension of rating curve using Chezy’s Method.

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Extension of Rating Curve

Rating curves are established by collecting and plotting past data of stages and discharges for a
particular section of the stream. A flood magnitude (for higher returned periods) is expected at
any time in future greater than the highest observed in the past and the available rating curve
becomes useless for this value of flood stage. Then extension of rating curve becomes essential
to determine the flood magnitude on a value of the stage higher than the observed.

Methods of Extension of Rating Curve

Usually, there are two approaches for the extension of rating curve.
a. The logarithmic method.
b. Chezy’s method.

The Logarithmic Method

This method is used if the cross section of the stream at the gauging station is of regular shape.

Log Q = Log K + n log (H – a)

Chezy’s Method

This method is based on Chezy’s equation.

Q = AC √ RS
If the friction is uniform and bed slope S is constant

Q = AC √ S √ R
A bD
R= = ≈D
P b + 2D
Q = A (C√ S) √ D

Q = (C√ S) A √ D

Q oc A √ D

Where b is the bed width, D is the mean depth of the stream, R is the hydraulic radius, S is the
slope of the energy line and Q is the flow rate in the channel. As flow is proportional to the A

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√ D , hence the graphical relationship between them should definitely be an straight line, which
can be easily extended up to required stage value.

The graphical procedure required for the extension of rating curve by Chezy’s method is shown
in Figure 4.5.

Table 4.1: Table of Calculations For The Extension of Rating Curve.

Sr.# Stage Depth Area Discharge A√ D LogQ Log (H-a)

H (m) D (m) A Q (m2.5)
(m3) (cumics) a= a= a=

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Results
i. Flood magnitude, Q at ------m stage by logarithmic method is --------- m3/ S.
ii. Flood magnitude, Q at ------m stage by Chezy’s method is -------------- m3/ S.

Comments

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