5.

Stream Flow Hydrographs

5.1. Hydrograph Components
5.2. Baseflow Separation
5.2.1. Straight line method
5.2.2. Fixed base length method
5.2.3. Variable slope method
5.2.4. Chow’s method
5.3. Unit Hydrograph
5.4. Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

5 Stream Flow Hydrographs

A hydrograph is a graphic representation of stage, discharge, velocity or any other property
of flowing water with respect to time in a drainage channel or a stream.
A streamflow hydrograph is a result of the runoff processes comprising overland flow,
interflow, and baseflow that are generated by precipitation storms.
A hydrograph resulting from a precipitation storm is known as a storm hydrograph. The
streamflow hydrograph is thus a cumulative effect of storm hydrographs.

5.1 Hydrograph Components

Total streamflow during a precipitation event includes the baseflow existing in the basin
prior to the storm and the runoff due to the given storm precipitation. Total streamflow
hydrographs are usually conceptualized as being composed of:

a) Direct Runoff, which is composed of contributions from surface runoff and quick interflow.
Unit hydrograph analysis refers only to direct runoff.

b) Baseflow, which is composed of contributions from delayed interflow and groundwater

runoff.

Schematically in Figure 5.1, the streamflow hydrograph is subdivided into

a. Rising Limb: rising portion of the hydrograph, composed mostly of surface runoff
b. Crest: zone of the hydrograph around peak discharge
c. Falling (or Recession) Limb: portion of the hydrograph after the peak discharge,
composed mostly of water released from storage in the basin. The lower part of this
recession corresponds to groundwater flow contributions.

The main factors affecting hydrograph shape are

a. Drainage characteristics: basin area, basin slope, soil type and land use, drainage density
and drainage network topology. Most changes in land use tend to increase the amount of
runoff from a given storm.
b. Rainfall characteristics: rainfall intensity, duration, and their spatial and temporal
distribution, and storm motion.

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 Hydrographs are also described in terms of the following time characteristics (Figure 1):
Time to Peak, tp: Time from the beginning of the rising limb to the occurrence of the peak
discharge.
The time to peak is largely determined by drainage characteristics such as drainage density,
slope, channel roughness, and soil infiltration characteristics. Rainfall distribution in space also
affects the time to peak.

Time of Concentration, tc: Time required for water to travel from the most hydraulically remote
point in the basin to the basin outlet. For rainfall events of very long duration, the time of
concentration is associated with the time required for the system to achieve the maximum or
equilibrium discharge.

Lag Time, tl: Time between the center of mass of the effective rainfall hyetograph and the center
of mass of the direct runoff hydrograph.

Time Base, tb: Duration of the direct runoff hydrograph.

Figure 5.1. Schematic Description of Hydrograph

5.2 Baseflow Separation

As the Unit Hydrograph concept applies only to direct runoff, the direct runoff must be
separated from the baseflow. Baseflow separation or hydrograph analysis is the process of
separating the direct runoff (surface runoff and quick interflow) from the baseflow. This separation
is somewhat arbitrary, but corresponds to theoretical concepts of basin response.
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 There are four commonly used methods for base flow separation:
a. Straight line method
b. Fixed base length method
c. Variable slope method
d. Chow’s method.

Any of the above methods for base flow separation can be used, the important consideration
is that there should be a consistent use of only one method for the whole analysis.

5.2.1 Straight Line Method

This is the simplest of all the base flow separation methods. It consists in determining the
beginning of the baseflow on the falling limb using the following empirical equation,
n = 0.83A0.2
where
n = time interval to peak (days)
A = basin area (km2)
The formula gives only an approximate value of n. It is unsuitable for smaller watersheds
and should be checked for a number of hydrographs before using.

5.2.2 Fixed Base Length Method

This is widely used method for base flow separation. In this method, the base flow curve
before the rising limb of the hydrograph is extended to intersect the peak flow ordinate. This line
represents the decreasing groundwater contribution during the rise of the stream. The point of
intersection of these two lines is then joined with the point of the beginning of baseflow determined
as described in the straight line method.

5.2.3 Variable Slope Method

In this method, similar to the fixed base length method, the base flow part of the curve
before the rising limb of the hydrograph is extended. In the same way, the base flow curve of the
recession limb is also extended inwards to intersect the ordinate joining the point of inflection of
the recession curve. A perpendicular is drawn at this point and the two extended line are joined.

5.2.4 Chow’s Method

In this method, the base flow curve before the rising limb of the hydrograph is extended up
to a point M, which is arbitrary taken at about 1/10th of the base of the hydrograph beyond the time
of peak flow. The recession curve is then extended inwards as in the case of the variable slope
method. A point N on the recession limb is arbitrary located at the middle of the points M and the
lowest part of the recession limb. Between the points M and N, a smooth curve with convex
curvature, shooting upwards, is introduced.

5.3 Unit Hydrograph

Unit hydrograph (UH) was proposed by L.K. Sherman. Unit hydrograph is defined as the
hydrograph of surface runoff of a catchment area resulting from unit depth of rainfall excess. It is
a linear model of the catchment.

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 Basic assumptions of UH:
1. The effective rainfall is uniformly distributed within its duration
2. The effective rainfall is uniformly distributed over the whole drainage basin
3. The base duration of direct runoff hydrograph due to an effective rainfall of unit duration is
constant.
4. The ordinates of DRH are directly proportional to the total amount of DR of each hydrograph
5. For a given basin, the runoff hydrograph due to a given period of rainfall reflects all the
combined physical characteristics of basin (time-invariant)

Steps to derive UH
Step 1: Select Appropriate Precipitation Event

Step 2: Remove Baseflow Contribution

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Step 3: Calculate Volume of Quick-Response Runoff

Step 4: Determine Excess Precipitation Depth for the Basin

Step 5: Adjust The Quick-Response Hydrograph to Represent 1 Unit of Excess

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Step 6: Determine Duration

Final Hydrograph

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5.4 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

UH is applicable only for gauged watershed and for the point on the stream where data are
measured
For other locations on the stream in the same watershed or for nearby (ungauged)
watersheds, synthetic procedures are used.

Synthetic hydrographs are derived by

a. Relating hydrograph characteristics such as peak flow, base time etc. with watershed
characteristics such as area and time of concentration.
b. Using dimensionless unit hydrograph
c. Based on watershed storage

Snyder’s Method
Snyder’s method allows the computations of
1. lag time (tL);
2. UH duration (tr);
3. UH peak discharge (qp);
4. Hydrograph time width at 50% and 75% (W50, W75) of peak flow

1. Lag time (tL): time from the center of rainfall – excess to the UH peak
tL = C1Ct (LLc)0.3
where tL = Time [hrs]; C1 = 0.75 for SI unit; 1.0 for English unit; Ct = Coefficient which is
a function of watershed slope and shape, 1.8~2.2 (for steeper slope, Ct is smaller); L =
length of the main channel [mi, km]; Lc = length along the main channel to the point nearest
to the watershed centroid

2. UH Duration (tr):
tr = tL / 5.5
where tr and tL are in [hrs]. If the duration of UH is other than tr, then the lag time needs
to be adjusted as
tpL = tL + 0.25 (tR - tr)
where tLR = adjusted lag time; tR = desired UH duration.

3. UH Peak Discharge (qp):

𝐶2 𝐶𝑝 𝐶2 𝐶𝑝
𝑞𝑝 = or 𝑞𝑝 =
𝑡𝑝 𝑡𝑝𝑅
where C2 = 2.75 for SI unit; 640 for English unit;
Cp = coefficient accounting for flood wave and storage condition, 0.4 ~ 0.8;
qp = specific discharge, [m3/s/km2] or [ft3/s/mi2]
To compute actual discharge, Qp = Aqp

4. Time Base (tb):

Assuming triangular UH,
tb = C 3 / qp
where tb – [hrs]; C3 = 5.56 for SI unit, 1290 for English unit.

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 5. UH Widths:
𝐶𝑤,75 𝐶𝑤,50
𝑊75 = 1.08 or 𝑊50 = 1.08
𝑞𝑝 𝑞𝑝

where
CW, 75 = 1.22 for SI unit; 440 for English unit;
CW, 50 = 2.14 for SI unit; 770 for English unit;.
W50, W75 are in hours; Usually, 1/3 of the width is distributed before UH peak and 2/3 after the
peak
Remember to check that the volume of UH is close to 1 cm or 1 inch

Sample Problems:
1. The ordinates of a hydrograph for a storm which continued for several days are given
below. Separate the base flow from the direct runoff by each of the four commonly used
methods. Compute the volume of the direct runoff.
Time
0 1 1½ 2 2½ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
(days)
Flow
75 65 640 970 890 700 400 250 160 120 90 80 65 60 50 45 35
(m3/s)

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 2. The average rainfall of a storm at successive 3-hour intervals was 3.0 and 4.0 cm
respectively in a basin of 200 km2. These storms produced the hydrograph given in below.
Calculate the infiltration index using straight line and fixed based length methods in
determining the excess runoff. Point B is 5 m3/s below A.
Time (h) 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
3
Total runoff (m /s) 30 55 90 130 170 160 110 60 35 25 8

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 3. Convert the direct runoff hydrograph below to a 2-HR UH. In the hyetograph ø = 0.5 in/hr.
In the hydrograph, base flow = 100 cfs

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 4. Use Snyder’s method to develop a UH for the area of 100mi2 described below. Sketch the
appropriate shape. What duration rainfall does this correspond to?
Ct = 1.8, L= 18mi, Cp = 0.6, Lc= 10mi

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