NORLITO JR. C.

LLANO
BSCE 3B
TOPIC 3: WATER BALANCE

Pretest.

Instruction: Test your knowledge about the course to know your readiness and preparation.
Answer what is required in the test stem.

1.) What are the different forms of water balance in the hydrologic cycle?

Water balance models that use precipitation (rainfall) as input, models that use rainfall and
temperature as input, models that use rainfall and potential evaporation as input, and models that
use daily input data are some of the numerous types of water balance models used in the
hydrologic cycle.

2.) Estimate roughly the water balance of a river or water shed.

Because changes in groundwater storage are difficult to observe directly, water balance estimates
are typically calculated indirectly using various hydrological models or empirical methods. The
velocity of rivers rises when more water is provided to them through tributary rivers. 0.60 m/s to
0.76 m/s was the average river surface velocity. A reasonably fast river travels at roughly 5
kilometers per hour.
NORLITO JR. C. LLANO
BSCE 3B
TOPIC 3: WATER BALANCE

Self- Evaluation

Direction. Here is some situations and problems that you can do to challenge your
communication and analytical skills.

1. For the country in which you are currently residing, find out the main components of water
balance: average precipitation, average river flow, and average ET.

Every year, our country, the Philippines, receives 2,348 millimeters of rain on average. This may
alter depending on where you are, such as in southern Mindanao or northern Luzon. In the
Philippines, the average river flow is 3,500 m/s. Finally, the average ET in our country varies
from 0.35 to 5.35 millimeters each day.

2. Find out the river basin in which you are living and the components mentioned in Question 3.1
for that river basin. Compare these values for the continent in which you are living, as given in
Table 3.3.

Surigao River Basin Precipitation Evaporation Runoff

(mm) (km3) (mm) (km3) (mm) (km3)
100 13,300 87 10,200 69 8,700

Asia Precipitation Evaporation Runoff

(mm) (km3) (mm) (km3) (mm) (km3)
740 32,200 416 18,100 324 14,100

The Surigao River Basin, according to the research, has a significantly lower value on water
balance components than the continent where we live, Asia.

3. If in a catchment with area of 20,000 km , the dominant land use changes from forest to
agriculture over a period of 10 years, which water-balance component will change the most, and
why?

Surface runoff is the component of the water balance that will change the most. This is the case
because the transition from forestation to agriculture impacts the amount of land available and
how it is used. Changes in soil erosion will have an impact on the flow of surface runoff, making
it more prone to erosion and raising the danger of vegetation damage.
4. Compare Tables 2.1 and 3.2 and note the differences. See that when we try to obtain estimates
of a quantity from different sources, there are differences. Can you obtain better estimates of
these quantities?

The water amount estimations are shown in Tables 2.1 and 3.2, respectively. The sorts of data
used to determine how much water is used vary. Despite the fact that Table 3.2 has fewer data
points, it is still useful for predicting water balance.

5. For a small, rural watershed in a semiarid climate, tabulate the relative significance of rainfall,
surface runoff, interflow, base flow, groundwater flow, infiltration, and ET at hourly, daily,
monthly, and yearly time scales. Do the same for a similar size watershed in a humid climate.
Small, Rural Watershed in a Semiarid Climate
Scales Hourly Daily Monthly Yearly
Rainfall Rainfall Because of Rainfall The
would be constant would watershed
minimal due evaporation, fluctuate over would be
to the hot everyday time, resulting vulnerable to
climate, with rainfall would in a depleted drought
less than 10 be impossible. watershed for within a year
mm rural areas. due to the hot
expected. climate.
Surface Runoff Over the Because of the Because of Due to the
course of an lower water the heated likelihood of
hour, the volume, daily environment, drought,
flow of surface runoff surface runoff surface runoff
surface would be would soon in the
runoff would slower. reduce in watershed
be rapid. flow. would be
impossible.
Interflow In over an Interflow Because of Because of
hour, the would be the rising the potential
subsurface reduced as warmth, of drought,
interflow will water volume interflow interflow in
be reduced. was reduced. would the watershed
fluctuate. would be
impossible.
Baseflow If there is no Baseflow Because of Even though
evaporation, would the hot the warmer
baseflow gradually drop temperature, heat causes a
would be if the climate baseflow drop in water
quick. was warmer. would volume,
fluctuate on a baseflow
monthly would be
basis. slower.
Groundwater The Groundwater Because of Because of
flow sediments flow would be the hot constant
would end up slower if there environment, evaporation,
in the was vegetation groundwater
watershed. vegetation. would flow would be
transpire, impossible.
causing the
flow to slow
down.
Infiltration Because of When the Infiltration Because the
the roots of weather is hot, would rise if ground
vegetation, there is less there was shields it from
infiltration is infiltration. some solar light,
successful. precipitation. infiltration
would still be
successful.
ET Because of Because of If there is If there isn't
its process, transpiration, consumption enough water
ET is the plants in the for the plants
important to would be dry. watershed, the to drink, they
the volume of will perish.
vegetation. water will
decrease.
Small, Rural Watershed in a Humid Climate
Scales Hourly Daily Monthly Yearly
Rainfall Rainfall is When rain Rainfall Because it has
determined by begins to fall, 10 increases the rural villages,
the weather mm of water volume of a the large
forecast for the each day is watershed in a watershed will
next hour. produced. humid climate. be helpful for a
year.
Surface Runoff At a given pace, When it rains, Although a Surface runoff
the flow of the pace of month of will assist rural
surface runoff surface runoff vegetation areas in
will be constant. rises, increasing reduces runoff facilitating
the volume of flow, it still water flow in
the watershed. increases order to provide
watershed an extra water
volume. supply.
Interflow In an hour, the Watershed The area of a The interflow
interflow will be would increase small rural technique will
quite rapid. on a daily basis watershed undoubtedly
as a result of this would be larger provide enough
process. than typical. water for rural
areas within a
year.
Baseflow Because the dirt The watershed When it rains, The watershed
covers the continues to the watershed's will assist rural
baseflow, it will grow in volume baseflow will areas for a year.
be slower. as a result of this continue to fill.
process and
during this
period.
Groundwater The watershed's Even if the This procedure Silts could enter
flow water supply is weather is
could result in the watershed,
ensured via humid, the flow
sediment but rural areas
groundwater rate will remain
erosion. have enough of
flow. constant. water.
Infiltration Rainwater will Forest trees may
Infiltration is Infiltration can
infiltrate into the make substantially cause erosion
ground through penetration processed when over the course
the roots of more successful.
the weather is of a year.
plants. humid.
ET ET is very ET occurs when ET aids in the ET will
common in trees and circulation of gradually raise
humid climates. vegetation are water from the the watershed's
 damp. watershed to the elevation.
atmosphere over
the course of a
month.

NORLITO JR. C. LLANO

BSCE 3B
TOPIC 3: WATER BALANCE

POST TEST

1. For large watershed in a semiarid climate, tabulate the relative significance of rainfall, surface
runoff, interflow, baseflow, groundwater flow, infiltration, and ET at hourly, daily, monthly, and
yearly time scales.

Large Watershed in a Semiarid Climate

Scales Hourly Daily Monthly Yearly
Rainfall Rainfall will be Rainfall will be When rainfall In a year, less
inadequate, less helpful for occurs, it could rainfall of 5
resulting to dry the development not sustainably mm/year will
watershed of watershed. fill the only result to
environment. watershed. drought.
Surface Runoff Surface runoff Surface runoff Surface runoff Drought could
in an hour is not on a daily basis could contribute stop runoff,
imminent. depends on the less to the decreasing the
rainfall capacity. sustainability of area of large
the watershed. watershed.
 Interflow In a semiarid Interflow would The watershed Interflow in
climate, not occur would not large watershed
interflow could because of the increase in area, would be
change climate for a but interflow impossible
drastically day. could still because of hot
especially contribute. weather.
without rainfall.
Baseflow The baseflow of The baseflow on Baseflow on a Baseflowin a
a watershed a daily basis will monthly basis large watershed
could change for still not be could hinder the will not change
this climate. affected despite development of the water cycle
of this kind of large watershed. process.
climate.
Groundwater It could occur It will not be When there is On a year, it
flow even with a little affected despite no rainfall for a could still
rainfall of the climate. month, increase the
groundwater watershed area
flow could for urban and
change. rural
communities.
Infiltration Infiltration On a daily basis, The flow of If drought
could not occur infiltration will water by happens,
at this time. greatly occur infiltration helps infiltration
through develop the would not be
vegetation. watershed. effective.
ET ET will happen Semiarid Inadequate The watershed
more frequently climate will water supply for will be the only
because of solar move ET until vegetation will way to nourish
light. vegetation is not be the result of vegetation in a
possible. undeveloped year.
watershed.

2. Consider a small urban watershed and repeat the same exercise as in Question 1.

Small, Urban Watershed in a Semiarid Climate

Scales Hourly Daily Monthly Yearly
Rainfall Rainfall depends Rainfall will not Rainfall will Rainfall is
on the weather affect urban create a small helpful for the
forecast, but is watershed since increase for urban
still possible. it will increase watershed, but watershed, but is
the watershed’s communities vulnerable for
area. will decide how drought and
they will inadequate
 manage the water supply.
watershed.
Surface Runoff Surface runoff Surface runoff The watershed Surface runoff
could would not be could be on a yearly basis
continuously significant contained with could change
erode the soil enough for the soil and silts drastically,
near its place. watershed. which gives its depending on
unnatural color. the intensity of
man-made
activities
Interflow Interflow has Interflow could On a monthly When weather is
much lesser bring minerals basis, interflow hot, interflow
impact on the from under the of watershed could be
watershed. ground. increases impossible
watershed area, because of
but susceptible evaporation.
to water loss by
evaporation.
Baseflow Baseflow On a daily basis, Baseflow Baseflow will
process enables baseflowcould process could only vanish once
ground to also deliver easily vanish rainfall within
become wet minerals from because of the year is not
during hot under the drought. enough.
weather. ground.
Groundwater Groundwater Groundwater Groundwater Groundwater
flow flow process flow could flow will flow process
will be lesser on increase the become will be vanished
impact for the watershed area susceptible to if there are no
watershed. even if the changes since precipitation in a
weather is hot. the watershed is year.
urbanized.
Infiltration Because of Infiltration will Infiltration Infiltration
urbanization, only convert to process on a process could be
infiltration groundwater monthly basis gone if
would be less flow because will be in a risk urbanization
than in forested. there is a little of changes since persists.
vegetation. the weather
maybe hot.
ET Because of Little vegetation Little
urbanization, ET for a day could precipitation
process will be cause decrease will occur
lesser than in in the water because of hot
forested. cycle process. weather.

3. Consider a large urban watershed and repeat the same exercise as in Question 1.
Large, Urban Watershed in a Semiarid Climate
Scales Hourly Daily Monthly Yearly
Rainfall Rainfall will be Rainfall will be When rainfall In a year, less
inadequate, less helpful for occurs, it could rainfall of 5
resulting to dry the development not sustainably mm/year will
watershed of watershed. fill the only result to
environment. watershed. drought.
Surface Runoff Surface runoff Surface runoff Surface runoff Drought could
in an hour is not on a daily basis could contribute stop runoff,
imminent. depends on the less to the decreasing the
rainfall capacity. sustainability of area of large
the watershed. urban
watershed.
Interflow In a semiarid Interflow would The watershed Interflow in
climate, not occur would not large watershed
interflow could because of the increase in area, would be
change climate for a but interflow impossible
drastically day. could still because of hot
especially contribute. weather.
without rainfall.
Baseflow The baseflow of The baseflow on Baseflow on a Baseflow in a
a watershed a daily basis will monthly basis large watershed
could change for still not be could hinder the will not change
this climate. affected despite development of the water cycle
of this kind of large watershed. process.
climate.
Groundwater It could occur It will not be When there is On a year, it
flow even with a little affected despite no rainfall for a could still
rainfall of the climate. month, increase the
groundwater watershed area
flow could for urban and
change. rural
communities.
Infiltration Infiltration On a daily basis, The flow of If drought
could not occur infiltration will water by happens,
at this time. greatly occur infiltration helps infiltration
through develop the would not be
vegetation. watershed. effective.
ET ET will happen Semiarid Inadequate The watershed
more frequently climate will water supply for will be the only
because of solar move ET until vegetation will way to nourish
light. vegetation is not be the result of vegetation in a
possible. undeveloped year.
watershed.
4. When doing the water balance of a watershed, what key assumptions one makes with regard to
space-time variability of different hydrologic-cycle components?

One of the most essential assumptions in estimating a watershed's water balance is that the data
is observed in terms of space-time variability, which contributes to the importance of water
balance. Another assumption is that the hydrologic cycle's components are critical for a
watershed's water balance, which implies that they are important throughout the cycle. The water
balance also conceptualizes the hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly scales that are essential for
overall process observation.

5. What are the main sources of error when computing the water balance of a watershed?

The main sources of errors when computing a watershed's water balance, according to Refsgaard
and Storm (1996), are uncertainties in hydrological modeling, which can come from four
different places: (a) uncertainties in input data (such as precipitation and temperature); (b)
uncertainties in calibration data (such as streamflow); (c) uncertainties in model parameters; and
(d) imperfect model structure.

6. Consider a small watershed with an area of 1,000 hectares. This watershed received rainfall
that occurred at an average rate of 2 cm/h for 2 hours. If all this water were collected in a
reservoir whose size is 100 m by 100 m, then what would be the depth of water in this reservoir?

Total depth of rainfall = 200mm/hr x 2hr = 4cm

Total volume of water = 100 x 1011 x (4 x 10-2) = 400000m2
Depth of water in reservoir = 400000m3 / (100m x 100m)
Depth of water in reservoir = 40m

7. A large rainstorm producing rainfall of 200 mm/h for 10 hours occurs in an area, and about
25% of this storm becomes runoff. What would be the size of the reservoir in ha-m that would
capture the entire runoff?

Intensity of rainfall = 200mm/hr

Duration of rainfall = 10 hr
Total depth of rainfall = 200mm/hr x 10hr = 2000mm = 2m
Area of catchment = 1000 hectares
Total rainfall in the catchment = 2 x 1000 hectares = 2000 ha-m
Size of reservoir = 0.25 x 2000 ha-m
Size of reservoir = 500 ha-m
8. Consider rainfall, interception, depression storage, infiltration, ET, and runoff. Which
components are most affected and which are not affected by high urbanization? Which
components are most affected and which are not affected by forestation?

Interception, depression storage, infiltration, and runoff are the most affected by increased
urbanization. Rainfall is the only component of rainfall that is unaffected by expanding
urbanization. Rainfall, interception, infiltration, and ET are all influenced by forestation.
Forestation has no effect on two components of depression storage and runoff.

9. Which of the components listed in Question 3.13 is most important on an interstate highway?

Precipitation is the most essential factor for an interstate highway. Rain and other types of
precipitation, such as snow and hail, cause damage to highways and other routes, thus there is
enough rainfall data to compute the average occurrence. Precipitation is especially essential on
interstate highways because different regions may be wetter or not.

10. Consider a watershed changing from rural to part urban, and part rural to part urban, and part
forested to fully urban. Discuss the relative significance of the components of the hydrologic
cycle from one state of the watershed to the other.

Changes to the watershed as it transitions from rural to predominantly urban would have less
impact on local residents. However, because water can be abused, placing homes or roads near it
may obstruct surface runoff and evaporation. Human-made activities like tree and plant cutting
and burning, which can alter rain patterns and cause flooding and erosion, can cause precipitation
to differ between rural and urban areas.