HYDROGRAPH ANALYSIS

A hydrograph is a continuous plot of instantaneous discharge vs.

time.
It results from a combination of physiographic and
meteorological conditions in a watershed and represents the
integrated effects of climate, hydrologic losses, surface runoff,
interflow, and ground water flow.
Detailed analysis of hydrographs is usually important in flood
damage mitigation, flood forecasting, or establishing design flows for
structures that convey floodwaters.
Components of Runoff
1.

Overland Flow or Surface Runoff. The water that travels over

the ground surface to a channel. The amount of surface runoff
flow may be small since it may only occur over a permeable soil
surface when the rainfall rate exceeds the local infiltration
capacity.

2.

Interflow or Subsurface Storm Flow.

The precipitation that
infiltrates the soil surface and move laterally through the upper
soil layers until it enters a stream channel. The proportion of the
interflow to the total runoff depends on the physical features of
the basin. Interflow travels more slowly than overland flow but
may be much larger in quantity especially in storms of moderate
intensity.

3.

Groundwater Flow or Base Flow. The portion of precipitation

that percolates downward until it reaches the water table. This
water accretion may eventually discharge into the streams if the
water table intersects the stream channels of the basin.
However, its contribution to streamflow cannot fluctuate rapidly
because of its very low flow velocity.
It has been customary to consider the total flow to be divided
into two parts: the storm or direct runoff and the base flow.
Direct runoff is presumed to consist of surface runoff and
substantial portion of the interflow, whereas base flow is
considered to be largely groundwater.

Hydrograph Relations
Basin Lag

Centroid of
Precipitation

im
nL
b

Risin
g

ssio

Discharge, Q

ce
Re

Time
of Rise

Li mb

Peak

Inflection
Point

Baseflow
Recession

Beginning of
Direct Runoff

Baseflow
Recession

End of
Direct Runoff

Time

Recession and Base Flow Separation

A typical hydrograph resulting from an isolated period of rainfall

consists of a rising limb, crest segment, and falling limb and
recession.
The slope of the rising limb is largely determined by the storm
intensity, and the point of inflection on the recession generally
marks the time at which surface inflow ceases and water is
thereafter withdrawn from the basin storage.

Discharge, Q

qt = qo e kt

Baseflow
Recession

where,
qo = specified initial discharge
qt = discharge at a later time t
k = recession constant

Time

Baseflow Separation Techniques

Straight Line Method

Draw a horizontal line

segment (A(A-B) from
beginning of runoff to
intersection
with
recession curve.

Discharge, Q

1.

Direct Runoff
B

A
Baseflow

Time

2. Fixed Base Method

Draw line segment (A C)

from baseflow recession to
a point directly below the
hydrograph peak
Draw line segment (C(C-D)
connecting a point N time
periods after the peak

N = bA0.2

Discharge, Q

Direct Runoff
A

C
Baseflow

D
B

Time

where,
N = time in days where
direct runoff is terminated
A = drainage area in km2
b = coefficient, taken as
0.827

Draw line segment (A(A-C)

forward from
baseflow
recession to a point directly
below the hydrograph peak
Draw line segment (B(B-E)
backward from baseflow
recession to a point directly
below the inflection point
Draw line segment (C(C-E)

Discharge, Q

3. Variable Slope Method

Direct Runoff
E
B

A
C
Baseflow

Time

Climatic Factors on Hydrograph

Hydrographs Shape and Volume
1.
2.
3.

Rainfall intensity and pattern

Areal distribution of rainfall over the basin
Duration of the storm event

Physiographic Factors on Hydrograph

Hydrographs Shape and Volume
1.
2.
3.
4.

Size and shape of drainage area

Nature of the stream network
Slope of the land and the main channel
Storage detention in the watershed