Analysis of Precipitation data

1
• Important for developing rainfall‐runoff relationships for a particular
catchment.

• To find out average precipitation of watershed, point precipitation

records of precipitation from different rain gauge stations is used.

• There are many factors which affect the reliability of average

precipitation of watershed determined by using the data from individual
stations in the watershed.

2
• For example

 The total number of rain gauges and their distribution in the catchment
(larger the number of rain gauges, the reliable will be the calculated average
precipitation).

• The size and shape of area of catchment.

• Distribution of rainfall over the area and

• Topography of the area.

3
• Conversion of point precipitation of various gauging stations into
average precipitation requires experience and skill.

• There are three methods to find average precipitation over a basin.

Accuracy of estimated average precipitation will depend upon the choice of
an appropriate method.

• These methods are described below:

 Arithmetic Mean Method

 Thiessen Polygon Method:‐

 Isohyetal Method

4
Arithmetic Mean Method
• In this method the average precipitation over an area is the arithmetic
average of the gauge precipitation values.

• We take data for only those stations which are within the boundary.

• This is the simplest method but can be applicable only for flat areas and
not for the hilly areas i.e. this method is used when:

 Basin area is flat and

 All stations with in practical limits are uniformly distributed over the area
 The rainfall is also nearly uniformly distributed over the area

5
• According to this method

Pav = [P1+P2+P3+…………+Pn]/n

• Where Pi is precipitation at station ‘i’ and there are ‘n’ number of gauges
installed in the catchment area from where the data has been collected.

6
Example
Six rain gauges were installed in a relatively flat area and storm
precipitation from these gauges was recorded as 3.7, 4.9, 6.8, 11.4, 7.6 and
12.7 cm respectively from gauges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Find average precipitation
over the catchment.

Solution

• As the area is relatively flat so we apply the arithmetic mean method.

• According to arithmetic mean method

P(average)=(3.7+4.9+6.8+11.4+7.6+12.7)/6 = 7.85cm.

7
Thiessen Polygon Method

• The fundamental principle followed in this method consists of weighing

the values at each station by a suitable proportion of the basin area. In
this method, a special weighing factor is considered.

8
Thiessen Polygon Method
• The following steps are used to determine average precipitation by
Thiessen Polygon Method.

 Draw the given area according to a certain scale and locate the stations
where measuring devices are installed.

 Join all the stations to get a network of non‐ intersecting system of

triangles.

 Draw perpendicular bisectors of all the lines joining the stations and get a
suitable network of polygons, each enclosing one station. It is assumed
that precipitation over the area enclosed by the polygon is uniform.

9
Estimation of Average Precipitation Over A Basin

10
Thiessen Polygon Method
• Measure area of the each polygon.

• Calculate the average precipitation. For the whole basin by the formula

• P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

Where
𝑃1 = Precipitation. at station enclosed by polygon of area A1

P2 = Precipitation. at station enclosed by polygon of area A2 and so on

Pn = Precipitation. at station enclosed by polygon of area An

And ‘A’ represents the total area of the catchment.

11
Example

 Following is shown map

of a catchment having 6
rainfall recording stations

 Find the Average

Precipitation over the
whole catchment.

12
12
The recorded precipitations are shown on the map of the
catchment. The Thiessen’s Polygons are constructed by the
method explained above. The precipitation and polygon
area are given below.

Station Precipitation Polygon Area (km²)

(mm)
Daggar 48 5,068.76
Besham 33 4,349.17
Shinkiari 25 1,399.25
Phulra 32 1,693.80
Tarbela 56 2,196.33
Oghi 30 2,234.29

13
Solution
• The calculations are best done in tabular form as shown in Table

Station Precipitation P Polygon Area A (km²) PxA (x106 m³)

(mm)
Daggar 48 5,068.76 243.30

Besham 33 4,349.17 143.52

Shinkiari 25 1,399.25 34.98

Phulra 32 1,693.80 54.20

Tarbela 56 2,196.33 122.99

Oghi 30 2,234.29 67.03

Total 16,941.60 666.02

Table: Average Precipitation by Thiessen Polygon Method

14
Solution
in

 PiAi
Mean Precipitation = i 1 in = 666.02x106x10³/16941.60x106
 Ai
i1

= 39.3 mm

15
Example
• From the data given in Table below, which was obtained from Thiessen
Polygon map of a catchment, find out the average precipitation of the
catchment.

Sr. Gauge Area of Sr. Gauge Area of

No. precipitatio Thiessen No. precipitatio Thiessen
n (cm) Polygon n (cm) Polygon
enclosing the enclosing the
station station
(sq. km) (sq. km)
1 10.2 416 4 9.4 520
2 8.1 260 5 15.2 390
3 12.7 650 6 7.6 325

Table: Precipitation Data

16
Solution
According to Thiessen Polygon Method
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A
The calculations are shown in tabular form.
Gauge Area of Thiessen Polygon Volume = PixAi (x104 m³)
precipitation (cm) enclosing the station (sq. km)

(1) = Pi (2) = Ai (3) = (1)x(2)

10.2 416 4243.20
8.1 260 2106.00
12.7 650 8255.00
9.4 520 4888.00
15.2 390 5928.00
7.6 325 2470.00
Total 2561 27890.20

17
Solution
• So

P (average) = 27890.20 ‚ 2561=10.9 cm

18
Example
• There are 10 observation stations, 7 being inside and 3 in neighborhood of
a catchment. Thiessen Polygons were drawn for a storm data from these
observation stations as shown in Table. Find out the average precipitation of
the catchment.
Sr. No Gauge Area of Thiessen Polygon enclosing the
precipitation(cm) station (sq. km)
1 5 100
2 3 160
3 4 200
4 3.5 215
5 4.7 250
6 6 175
7 4 100

Table: Average Precipitation by Thiessen Method

19
Solution
According to Thiessen Polygon Method
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

20
Solution
• So

P(average) = 5157.5 ‚ 1200 = 4.3 cm

21
Isohyetal Method
• The most accurate method of averaging precipitation over an
area is the isohyetal method.

• For estimation of average precipitation of the catchment by isohyetal

method the following steps are used.

• Draw the map of the area according to a certain scale.

• Locate the points on map where precipitation measuring gauges are
installed.
• Write the amount of precipitation for stations.
• Draw isohyets (Lines joining points of equal precipitation).

22
Isohyetal Method
• Measure area enclosed between every two isohyets or the area
enclosed by an isohyet and boundary of the catchment.
Find average precipitation by the formula.
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A
• Where,
P1= Mean precipitation of two isohyets 1 and 2 A1= Area between
these two isohyets.
P2 = Mean precipitation of two isohyets 2 and 3 A2 = the area b/w
these two isohyets. and, so on
Pn = Mean precipitation of isohyets n‐1 and n An = the area between
these two isohyets.

• It may be noted that the last and first areas mentioned above may be
between an isohyet and boundary of the catchment. In this case the
precipitation at the boundary line is required which may be extrapolated
or interpolated.
23
Example
From the data given in table below, which was obtained from isohyetal map of a
catchment, find out the average precipitation of the catchment.
Isohyet No Isohyetal precipitation Area enclosed between two isohyets.
(cm) (sq
km)
1 2.5 390

2 5.0 520

3 7.5 650

4 10.0 390

5 10.0 390

6 7.5 442

7 5.0 546

8 2.5

Table: Data from Isohyetal Map. 24

Example
• Note that the isohyet No. 1 and 8 were out of the boundary of the
catchment. The area between isohyet No. 1 and the boundary was
estimated to be 312 sq. km and that of between isohyet No. 8 and
boundary was 494 sq. km. Precipitation on these boundaries was
interpolated as 3.0 and 3.1 cm, respectively.

Solution

• In isohyetal method we have to calculate the average precipitation of

every two consecutive isohyets. This is given in Table below:

25
Estimation of Average Precipitation Over A Basin
Isohy Isohyetal Average of Area enclosed between Volum
et precipitati precipitation of two two isohyets (sq e (x104
No on (cm) consecutive isohyets km) m³)
(cm)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) = (3) x (4)
1 2.5 3 (for isohyet and 312 (for isohyet and 936.00
boundary) boundary)

2 5.0 6.25 520 3250.00

3 7.5 8.75 650 5687.50
4 10.0 10.0 390 3900.00
5 10.0 8.75 390 3412.50
6 7.5 6.25 442 2762.50
7 5.0 3.1 (for isohyet and 546 (for isohyet and 1692.60
boundary) boundary)

8 2.5
∑ 3250 21641.1

26
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

= 21641.1/3250=6.66 cm

27
Example

In a catchment of area 1,000 sq km, there are 8 rain gauges, 5 inside

the area and 3 outside, in its surroundings. Isohyets were drawn from
the data of these rain gauges for a storm. From the isohyetal map the
following information was obtained: areas between 1 and 2 cm isohyets, 2
and 3 cm, 3 and 4 cm and 4 and 5 cm isohyets was 105, 230, 150 and
220 sq.km, respectively. The area between one end boundary which has
0.75 cm rainfall and 1 cm isohyet was 120 sq.km and the other end
boundary which has precipitation of 5.5 cm and isohyet of 5 cm was 175
sq. km. Find average precipitation.
.

28
Solution
• In the isohyetal method we have to calculate the average precipitation of
every two consecutive isohyets. This is given in Table below
Isohy Isohyetal Average of Area Volum
et precipitati precipitation of enclosed e (x104
No o n (cm) two consecutive between two m³)
isohyets (cm) isohyets
(sq km)
Boundary 0.75 0.875 (for isohyet 120 (for isohyet 105.00
and and
boundary) boundary)
1 1 1.5 105 157.50
2 2 2.5 230 575.00
3 3 3.5 150 525.00
4 4 4.5 220 990.00
5 5 5.25(for isohyet and 175 918.75
boundary)
Boundary 5.5
∑ 1000.00 3271.25
29
Solution

P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A

= 3271.25/1000
= 3.27 cm

30
Example
From the isohyetal map shown in
Figure below find out average
precipitation.

Fig.: Isohyetal Map

31
Solution

• The isohyets are drawn on the topographic map by interpolating rainfall

depths at given stations. Once isohyets are drawn, the area enclosed
between consecutive isohyets is determined either by planimeter or other
suitable more precise method.

• The calculations for average precipitation are given in table below.

32
Solution
Isohyte Av. Area Between Volu
value (mm) Isohyte Consecutive Isohytes me
Value (km²) (x106
(mm) m³)
Boundary 25.0 310.53 7.76
and 25
25 and 30 27.5 2220.71 61.07
30 and 35 32.5 2968.38 96.47
35 and 40 37.5 2231.86 83.69
40 and 45 42.5 2303.52 97.90
45 and 50 47.5 2731.90 129.77
50 and 55 52.5 2689.70 141.21
55 and 55 1484.99 81.67
Boundary
Total 16,941.60 699.54

33
Solution

Mean Precipitation = Volume/Area

Depth
= 699.54x106x10³/16941.
60x106
= 41.29 mm

34
Intensity of Precipitation

The rate of occurrence of precipitation is called intensity of precipitation

or
precipitation occurring in unit time is known as intensity of precipitation.

To find out intensity of a certain interval the points on graph of

accumulative precipitation vs time are chosen in such a way that we get the
maximum difference for the given interval.

35
Intensity of Precipitation
• Find out intensity of precipitation of 5, 10 & 15 minutes for rainfall data
given in Table.
• HINT
– Use graph alternatively

Time ∑𝑷
0 00
5 12.5
10 20
14 42.5
20 62.5

Table: Rainfall Data

36
Solution
• For 5‐minutes interval the maximum difference is 22.5

so, intensity for 5‐minutes interval = 22.5 / 5 = 4.5 cm/min

.
• For 10‐minutes intensity = 42.5 / 10 = 4.25 cm/min.

• For 15‐minutes intensity = 50 / 15 = 3.33 cm/min.

37
Depth ‐ Area Relationships

• The distribution of rainfall is usually not uniform over the area.

• The precipitation is maximum at the center of storm and decreases as we

move away from the center of storm.

• For rainfall of a given duration, the average depth decreases with the
area in an exponential manner

38
Mass Curve
A plot of cumulative precipitation against time in chronological order.
This is called mass curve of rainfall data.

• Intensity of rainfall for a certain duration is determined from this graph.

This graph gives a complete history of a storm regarding the duration
and magnitude of precipitation.

• In the case of non‐recording rain gauges the mass curve is to be plotted

from the data in which both duration and magnitude of precipitation have
been observed for different time intervals during storm.

39
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
 Analysis of both the temporal and areal distribution of a storm is required in
many hydrologic studies. Depth-Area-Duration curves provide requisite
information for such studies.

 It is necessary to have information on the maximum amount of

precipitation of various durations occurring over various sizes of areas.

 The development of a relationship between maximum Depth‐Area‐

Duration for a region is called depth area duration analysis (DAD
analysis).

 In this analysis first the isohyetal maps and mass curves of severe most
storms which have occurred in past in the region are prepared.

40
• For a storm with a single major center, the isohyets are taken as the
boundaries of individual area. The average storm precipitation within
each isohyet is computed.

• The storm total is distributed through successive increments of time

(say 3 hours) in accordance with the distribution record at nearby
stations.

• This gives data showing the time distribution of average rainfall over
areas of various sizes. From this data the maximum rainfall for various
durations (3, 6, 9, 12 hours) can be selected for each size of area.

• The maximum values for every duration plotted versus area gives
what are called Depth-Area-Duration curves.

41
42
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
Example

The isohyetal map shown in Figure is for 10 hour storm over a

catchment area. Area enclosed between two consecutive isohyets is shown
on the map and isohyetal interval is 5 cm with storm center having
precipitation of 30 cm. Find:

 The average precipitation of the catchment by isohyetal method

 The Equivalent Uniform Depth of rain for depth area duration curve.

43
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
Isohyte (cm) Area Enclosed (sq.km)
30 60
25 and 30 100
20 and 25 90
15 and 20 130
10 and 15 200
5 and 10 400

Continued
…
44
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves

5 c
10 c m
15 c m
m

25 c 20 c
m m
30 c
m

Fig.: Isohyte Map

45
Solution

• The calculation are performed in the table. The average precipitation is

found by summing up area enclosed by consecutive isohyets multiplied
by average isohyte value and whole sum divided by total area.

• The EUD is found by dividing cumulative volume by cumulative area.

The Figure shows variation of EUD with area.

46
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves
Isohyt Area Cumm. Mean Volum Cum EUD
e enclos Area Isohy e m. (cm)
(cm) ed enclosed te (x106 Volum
(km²) (km²) (cm) ) e
(x106)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7=6÷3

30 60 60 30.00 18.00 18.00 30.00

30 & 25 100 160 27.50 27.50 45.50 28.44

25 & 20 90 250 22.50 20.25 65.75 26.30

20 & 15 130 380 17.50 22.75 88.50 23.29

15 & 10 200 580 12.50 25.00 113.50 19.57

10 & 5 400 980 7.50 30.00 143.50 14.64

Mean Precipitation = 14.64 cm

Table: Finding EUD

47
Depth‐Area‐Duration Curves

Fig.: Depth-Area Curve

48