 CIVE 2304

 Hydrology

by
Noor Farahain
Muhammad Amin
 Chapter 4
Hydrograph Analysis
 Total runoff Direct runoff
- Baseflow = hydrograph
hydrograph

Q Q Q

t t t

Area below graph = Runoff volume

 Unit Hydrograph (UH)
Introduced by Sherman (1932).
Definition: UH is the hydrograph of direct runoff
resulting from one unit depth (1cm) of rainfall
excess occurring uniformly over the basin and at a
uniform rate for a specific duration (D hours).
D-hr UH

1cm RE
Q
Intensity = 1/D cm/h

t
tb
 Effect of Storm
Duration
2-hr UH 6-hr UH 12-hr UH

Q Q Q

Unit RE
Unit RE Unit RE

A1 A2 A3
t t
t

Area under the graph: A1 = A2 = A3;

Volume of effective rainfall: V1 = V2 = V3

Differences: Time to peak, time base,

peak value
 Assumptions in UH
•Time Invariance: Characteristics of the land and
soil are assumed to be the same for storm events of
similar duration, thus can be represented by a single
unit hydrograph of specific shape.

• Linear Response: Principle of proportionality

(Ord. UH) x R = DRH

HENCE, UH can be used to predict runoff from a storm event

 Principle of Proportionality
DRH due to
D-hr UH P cm RE (P>1) In D hr

1cm RE P cm RE
Q Q

t t
tb tb

Time to peak & time base remain the same

Ordinates & peak value changed
 Principle of Proportionality
DRH due to
D-hr UH P cm RE (P<1) In D hr

1cm RE P cm RE
Q Q

t t
tb tb

Time to peak & time base remain the same

Ordinates & peak value change
 6h rainfall: time invariance

t(h) 6h-UH DRH x RE depth: linear response

x3.5
0 0 0
x3.5
3 25 87.5
x3.5
6 50 175 DRH
x3.5
9 85 297.
x3.5 5
12 125
437. UH
…

x3.5
5
60 8 0
x3.5
69 0 0
tb
 Method of Superposition &
Lagging
D-hr UH DRH for 2D-hr rain of 1cm each

Q
2D hr
D hr

2cm RE
Q 1cm RE

t t
tb
tb
tb
Lag time

Hence, D-hr UH can be used to derive DRH for storms which has
a duration of nD, n=integer
 Method of Superposition &
Lagging DRH for a complex storm event

D-hr UH
Q D D D

D Q cm R cm
1cm P cm
Q

t
tb

tb t

Total DRH =  DRH i

tb
tb
Example: A catchment has a constant loss rate of 1.5cm/h.
In a particular storm event, the catchment receive 6cm rainfall in 2 hours
and 5cm rainfall in the next 2 hours. Determine the resulting runoff hydrograph if the
average baseflow is 20m3/s and the 2h UH is given.
t (h) 2h UH (m3/s)
0.0 0
1.0 25 t(h) P (cm) L (cm) R (cm)
2.0 40 0 0
3.0 25 2 6 3 3
4.0 13 4 5 3 2
5.0 6
6.0 3
7.0 1
8.0 0
t (h) 2h UH (m3/s) DRH (3cm) DRH (2cm) TOTAL DRH
0.0 0 0 0
1.0 25 75 75
2.0 40 120 0 120
3.0 25 75 50 125
4.0 13 39 80 119
5.0 6 18 50 66.5
6.0 3 9 26 35
7.0 1 3 12 15
8.0 0 0 6 6
9.0 0 2 2
10.0 0 0
160
DRH (3cm)
140
DRH (2cm)
120
TOTAL DRH
100 Flood
80 Hydrograph

60
40
20
0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0
 Derivation of UH
Requires at least five (5) QUALIFIED storm events
with the following characteristics:
• Storm must be isolated/ independent
• Storm must be uniform over entire duration
• Storm must be uniform over entire watershed
• Storm duration must be ±20%D (preferably less)
• Storm duration must be 1/5 to 1/3 of basin lag
•Storm magnitude must be significant, preferably
between 1 to 4cm
 Derivation of UH
DRH for D-hr rain D-hr UH

D hr D hr

Q Q

P units RE
1 unit RE

V=PxA V=1xA

t t
tb tb

(Ord. DRH) / R = UH
 Derivation of
UH • 5 UH from qualified storm events
• Qp are different
Q
• tpk are different
• tb are different

t
 Average
UH • determine average Q , t
p pk and tb
Qp
Q

• adjust curve – must be smooth

•check area below UH - must
represent unit depth

tb t
tpk
 Limitations of UH
•Storm are rarely uniform over entire catchment,
hence, UH method is only applicable for
2km2<A<5000km2
•Large storage in catchment which will affect the
assumption of linear response is not considered.
•Precipitation must be rainfall only, snow fall
cannot be considered.
• Method invalid if the storm is nonuniform in
time.

Accuracy: typically ±20% tb , ±10% Qp

 Analysis
Input Transfer Function Output

Rainfall Data Streamflow Data

Unit Hy
?
drograph
Synthesis
Input Transfer Function Output

Rainfall Data Unit Hydrograph

Stre
?
amflow
 1D 2D 3D
UH of Complex
R1 R2 R3
Storm
Total direct runoff hydrograph due
Q to two D-hr rainfall
R1U4+ R2U3
R1U5+ R2U4

Direct runoff hydrograph due to

R1U3+ R2U2 R1U6+ R2U5 D-hr effective rain of R1 unit

Direct runoff hydrograph due to

R1U7+ R2U6 D-hr effective rain of R2 unit

R1U2+ R2U1 R1U8+ R2U7

R1U9+ R2U8
R1U1 R1U10+ R2U9
R2U10 t

D-hr
 Convolution Computation
Tim Rainf UH Runoff due Runoff due Runoff due Total direct runoff
e all Un to 1st to 2nd to 4th Qi
(hr) excess
X-hr rain X-hr rain X-hr rain
Rm
0 - 0 0 0 0 0

X R1 U1 R1U1 0 0 R1U1

2X R2 U2 R1U2 R2U1 0 R1U2 + R2U1

3X 0 U3 R1U3 R2U2 0 R1U3 + R2U2

4X R4 U4 R1U4 R2U3 R4U1 R1U4 + R2U3 + R4U1

5X … U5 R1U5 R2U4 R4U2 R1U5 + R2U4 + R4U2

6X U6 R1U6 R2U5 R4U3 R1U6 + R2U5 + R4U3

7X U7 R1U7 R2U6 R4U4 R1U7 + R2U6 + R4U4

8X U8 R1U8 R2U7 R4U5 R1U8 + R2U7 + R4U5

9X U9 R1U9 R2U8 R4U6 R1U9 + R2U8 + R4U6

10X R2U9 R4U7 R1U10 + R2U9 + R4U7

U10 R1U10

11X 0 0 R4U8 R2U10 + R4U8

R2U10

12X 0 R4U9 R4U9

13X
R4U10 R4U10

14X 0 0
 Deconvolution Computation
= R1 U 1
= R2U1 + R1U2
= R3U1 + R2U2 + R1U3
Q1 Q2 Q3
…
QM = RMU1
= 0 + 0 + … + RMUN-1 + RM-1UN
+ R U2 + … + + … + 0 + RMUN
= M-1
0 + 0
R1UM
Q = R x UQM+1 = 0
+ RMU2
Unit hydrograph+U…can
+ be solved using matrix method.
R2UM + R1UM+1
…
QN+M-2 QN+M-1
 UH of different durations
• Method of Superposition
• S-hydrograph Method
 Method of
Superposition DRH for 2D-hr rain
D-hr UH
Q
2D hr
D hr

Q 1cm RE 2cm RE

t t
tb
tb
tb

Lag time
 Method of
Superposition
DRH for 2D-hr rain 2D-hr UH

Q Q
2D hr 2D hr

2cm RE

1cm RE

t t
tb tb + D
tb

Intensity = 2/2D cm/h Intensity = 1/2D cm/h

 Method of
Superposition
DRH for 3D-hr rain 3D-hr UH

Q Q
3D hr 3D hr

3cm RE

1cm RE

t t
tb tb + 2D
tb

tb

Intensity = 1/D cm/h Intensity = 1/3D cm/h

 Effect of Storm
Duration
D-hr UH 2D-hr UH 3D-hr UH

Q Q Q

A1 A2
A3
t t t

Area under the graph: A1 = A2 = A3;

Volume of effective rainfall: V1 = V2 = V3
D = duration of UH
t b'  tb  (n
n = number of D-hr rainfall 1)D
Intensity = 1/nD cm/h

Limitation: For an UH of duration D, other UH

derived has duration which is multiple of the
original UH only, i.e. nD, where n is an integer.

Example 6.9, pg206

 S-hydrograph
Method
• Overcome the limitation of Method of Superposition.
• Can derive UH with ANY DURATION.
 S-hydrograph
Q
S-hydrograph, a.k.a S-curve,
is the summation of infinite
D hr
series of D-hr UH, spaced D-
hr apart.
Maximum

t
tb
 S-hydrograph
Q T hr
Q
Storm (2)
Storm (1)

D hr
S-hydrograph(1)
Maximum

S-hydrograph(2)

S S

t t
tb
 S-hydrograph
Q T hr
Intensity = 1/D cm/h
Storm (2)
Duration = T h
Depth = Intensity x Storm (1)
Duration
S-hydrograph(1)
= T/D cm
Q

S
S-hydrograph(2)

S
T/D cm S
S x D/T

1 cm
t
 S-hydrograph
Intensity = 1/D cm/h
Duration = T h
Depth = Intensity x
Duration
= T/D cm
Q

T-hr UH

1 cm
 Synthetic UH
A synthetic unit hydrograph is derived from
empirical equations of regional validity when
observed rainfall-runoff data are not available for
unit hydrograph derivation. Its uses are:
• to anticipate post-development conditions,
•to extend the usage of point–specific unit
hydrograph to other locations of similar
characteristics.
 Synthetic UH
• Snyder’s method
• SCS method
Both to utilize existing UH from a neighbouring
meteorologically similar watershed.
Watershed A Watershed B
UH UH not available
available

Rainfall duration

?
Qp

t
t
 Snyder’s Standard UH

tr = tp / 5.5

tr = rainfall duration (h)

tr
tp = Ct ( L Lca )0.3
tp = basin lag (h)
tp
L = basin length (km)
Qp Lca = distance from watershed centroid to
outlet (measurement point) along the
main channel (km)
Ct = regional constant (0.3,6.0)

t
 For any UH, tR = rainfall duration (h), tp’ = basin lag (h)

For standard UH
tp’ = tp
tR For non-standard UH
tr = tR
t p’  t p
tp’
Qp = t2.78
r  tRCpA/ tp’
Qp

A = watershed area (km2)

Qp = peak flow rate (m3/s)
Cp = regional constant (0.31, 0.93)

t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 1: check whether source UH is standard
Step 2: determine regional constants of source UH
Step 3: check whether required UH is standard
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH
Step 5: determine time base of required UH
Step 6: finalising required UH using S-curve
method
Source UH Required UH

?
Qp

t t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 1: check whether source UH is standard

Assume tr = tR
Source UH

tR tr = tp / 5.5  tp

I tp’ = tp standard
tp’
f
Qp
I tp’  tp non-standard
f

t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 2: determine regional constants of source UH

tp’ = tp + 0.25(tR – tr)

Source UH
 tp
tR tp’ = 21tp /22 + 0.25tR

tp = Ct ( L Lca )0.3  Ct
tp’

Qp
Qp = 2.78 CpA/ tp’  Cp

t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 3: check whether required UH is standard

Required UH tp = Ct ( L Lca )0.3

tR
tr = tp / 5.5

tp’ Assume tp’ = tp

Qp If tr = tR standard

If tr  t R non-standard

t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH

tp’ = tp + 0.25(tR – tr)

Required UH
 t p’
tR tp’ = 21tp /22 + 0.25tR

Qp = 2.78 CpA/ tp’  Qp

tp’

Qp
tpk = tR/2 + tp’

tpk t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH

Required UH W50 = 5.87/ q1.08 q = Qp/A

W75
Qp W75 = W50 / 1.75

0.75Qp

0.5Qp

W50

t
 Snyder’s Method
Qp

W75 /3
0.75Qp
2/3 W75

0.5Qp
W50 /3 2/3 W50

tpk t
 Snyder’s Method
Step 5: determine time base of required UH

For large catchment:

Required UH
tb = 72 +3tp’ (h)

Qp
For small catchment:
tb = 5(tp’ +0.5tR) (h)
To the nearest larger integer divisible by tR

tb t
tb is always least accurate
 Snyder’s Method
Step 6: Finalising UH using S-curve method

• Use the synthetic UH derived to plot an S-curve

• Use the S-curve to derive a UH of duration tR
 SCS Method
SCS = Soil Conservation Service, US

•Uses dimensionless UH derived from large

number of UH on variety of watershed.
t/tpk Q/Qp
0.0 0
0.1
0.2
0.015
0.075
SCS Method
0.3 0.16
0.4 0.28
1
0.5 0.43
0.6 0.6 0.9
0.7 0.77 0.8
0.8 0.89
0.7
0.9 0.97
1.0 1 0.6
1.1 0.98 0.5
1.2 0.92
0.4
1.3 0.84
1.4 0.75 0.3
1.5 0.66 0.2
1.6 0.56
0.1
1.8 0.42
2.0 0.32 0
2.2 0.24 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0
2.4 0.18
2.6 0.13
2.8 0.098
3.0 0.075
3.5 0.036
4.0 0.018
4.5 0.009
5.0 0.004
6.0 0
 SCS Method
• Using Snyder’s method, calc. tpk and Qp
• Multiply t/tpk by tpk =t
• Multiply Q/Qp by Qp =Q

• Plot Q vs t
10
9
8

Example: 7
6
tpk = 20h 5
Qp = 10m3/s 4
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120