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RUNOFF ESTIMATION USING

CURVE NUMBER METHOD

Introduction

The estimation of water availability is necessary in water resources development not

only for economic appraisal of the project but also for checking the reliability and
general pattern of availability of water from year to year.

With the help of rainfall-runoff relationship, water availability can be computed.

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Hydrological Models

A hydrologic model is a simplification of a real-world system (e.g., surface water, soil

water, wetland, groundwater, estuary) that aids in understanding, predicting, and
managing water resources. Both the flow and quality of water are commonly studied
using hydrologic models.

Chow et al. (1988) stated that hydrological models can be classified into two major
categories, namely:
1. Physical models
2. Mathematical models.

The SCS-CN method is a conceptual model of hydrologic abstraction of storm

rainfall, supported by empirical data. Its objective is to estimate direct runoff volume
from storm rainfall depth, based on a curve number CN. (Ponce & Hawkins 1956)

Curve Number Method:

This method was developed by
Natural Resources Conservation
Services (NRSC) in 1954 and
published through documented in
Section 4 of the National
Engineering Handbook US
department of Agriculture in 1956.

This method was generally

developed to determine the potential
runoff generated from agriculture
field.
But later the method was applied to
watershed scale also and
successfully applied

Source: Soil Conservation Service (SCS) (1956, 1964, 1971, 1972, 1985 ), ‘Hydrology, National Engineering Handbook,
Supplement A, Section 4, Chapter 10, Soil Conservation Service, U.S.D.A., Washington, D.C.

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Curve Number :

In curve number method runoff depth (i.e. effective depth or rainfall excess depth) is a
function of rainfall depth & curve number.
Curve number is essentially a coefficient that reduces the total precipitation to runoff potential
after losses namely:
1. Evaporation
2. Absorption
3. Transpiration
4. Surface storage

The Curve Number is quantitative descriptor of:

1. Land use
2. Soil Characteristic (HSG)
3. Antecedent Moisture Condition (AMC)

Watershed :

Watershed
(Basin, Catchment,
Contributing area) Watershed Boundaries
(Drainage Divides)

Pour Points
(Outlets)

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Rainfall-Runoff Modelling using GIS: SCS-CN method

The SCS-CN Model is based on :

1. Water Balance Equation P= Ia + F+Q ……………..(1)

2. The ratio of actual amount of runoff to maximum potential runoff is equal to the ratio of actual infiltration
to the potential maximum retention
………..(2)

3. The amount of initial abstraction is some fraction of the potential maximum retention

Ia = λS ………..(3) Where
Combining equation (3) and (2) and using equation (1) Q = runoff in mm;
P = precipitation in mm (P≥ Q);
S = potential maximum retention in mm;
………..(3) Ia = initial abstraction
F = cumulative infiltration = P - Ia - Q
The above equation (3) is known as runoff curve number equation

USDA Soil Conservation Services has expressed “S” in terms of a dimensionless parameter “CN” as:

or
Curve Number has a range of 0 to 100. 100 represents condition of Rainfall equal to runoff & 0 (zero) represents no runoff
condition

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Rainfall-Runoff Modelling using GIS: SCS-CN method

Rainfall –Runoff Method

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Land use

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Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG)

 Based on the infiltration and other characteristics soils are classified into four groups:

1. Group A : Low runoff potential & high infiltration rate

2. Group B: Moderately low runoff potential and moderate infiltration rate

3. Group C: Moderately high runoff potential and low infiltration rate

4. Group D: High runoff potential and very low infiltration rate

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Land use

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Curve Number
LULC Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG)
S.No.
Description A B C D
1 Build Up 81 88 91 94
2 Kharif only 76 86 90 93
3 Rabi only 76 86 90 93
4 Zaid only 76 86 90 93
5 Double/triple 76 86 90 93
6 Current Fallow 74 86 90 93
Plantation/orch
7 41 55 69 73
ard
Deciduous
8 26 40 58 61
Forest
Scrub/Deg.
9 33 47 64 67
Forest
Other
10 71 80 85 88
wasteland
11 Scrubland 49 69 79 84
12 Waterbodies 100 100 100 100

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Land use and HSG overlay

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Antecedent Moisture Condition (AMC)

 It is the moisture content present in the soil before the rainfall – runoff event. For

practical application AMC is classified as

1. AMC I – Very less rainfall occurs and soil are in dry condition

2. AMC II – Soil are little bit dry

3. AMCIII – huge amount of rainfall and soils are saturated

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Rainfall-Runoff Modelling using GIS: SCS-CN method

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Source: http://www.professorpatel.com/curve-number-introduction.html

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