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Unit Hydrograph Theory
Unit Hydrograph Theory
• Sherman - 1932
• Horton - 1933
• Wisler & Brater - 1949 - “the hydrograph of surface runoff
resulting from a relatively short, intense rain, called a unit
storm.”
• The runoff hydrograph may be “made up” of runoff that is
generated as flow through the soil (Black, 1990).
1
Graphical Representation
Duration of
excess
precipitation.
Lag time
Time of
concentration
Base flow
2
Unit Hydrograph
• The hydrograph that results from 1-inch of excess precipitation (or
runoff) spread uniformly in space and time over a watershed for a
given duration.
600.0000
500.0000
Surface
Response
400.0000
300.0000
Baseflow
200.0000
100.0000
0.0000
0. 0
00
0. 0
00
0. 0
00
00
1. 0
00
1. 0
00
1. 0
00
00
00
2. 0
2. 0
00
3. 0
00
3. 0
00
3. 0
00
00
0
0
0
16
32
48
64
80
96
12
28
44
60
76
92
08
24
40
56
72
88
04
20
36
52
68
0
0.
0.
1.
1.
2.
3.
0.
0.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3
Derived Unit Hydrograph
700.0000
600.0000 Total
Hydrograph
500.0000
Surface
400.0000 Response
300.0000
Baseflow
200.0000
100.0000
0.0000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
4
Deriving a UHG from a Storm
sample watershed = 450 mi2
25000 0.8
0.7
20000
0.6
Precipitation (inches)
0.5
15000
Flow (cfs)
0.4
10000
0.3
0.2
5000
0.1
0 0
2
0
4
8
24
32
48
56
72
80
96
0
8
16
40
64
88
11
12
10
12
Time (hrs.)
Separation of Baseflow
... generally accepted that the inflection point on the recession limb of a
hydrograph is the result of a change in the controlling physical processes
of the excess precipitation flowing to the basin outlet.
In this example, baseflow is considered to be a straight line connecting
that point at which the hydrograph begins to rise rapidly and the
inflection point on the recession side of the hydrograph.
the inflection point may be found by plotting the hydrograph in semi-
log fashion with flow being plotted on the log scale and noting the time
at which the recession side fits a straight line.
10
10
5
Semi-log Plot
100000
1000
Flow (cfs)
100
10
1 9
4
4
9
4
9
4
29
34
39
44
49
54
59
64
69
74
79
84
89
94
99
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
Time (hrs.)
11
11
20000
15000
Flow (cfs)
10000
5000
0
0
7
14
21
28
35
42
49
56
63
70
77
84
91
98
105
112
119
126
133
Time (hrs.)
12
12
6
Separate Baseflow
25000
20000
15000
Flow (cfs)
10000
5000
0 5
2
9
6
3
0
7
14
21
28
35
42
49
56
63
70
77
84
91
98
10
11
11
12
13
Time (hrs.)
13
13
Sample Calculations
• In the present example (hourly time step), the flows are summed and
then multiplied by 3600 seconds to determine the volume of runoff in
cubic feet. If desired, this value may then be converted to acre-feet by
dividing by 43,560 square feet per acre.
• The depth of direct runoff in feet is found by dividing the total volume
of excess precipitation (now in acre-feet) by the watershed area (450
mi2 converted to 288,000 acres).
• In this example, the volume of excess precipitation or direct runoff for
storm #1 was determined to be 39,692 acre-feet.
• The depth of direct runoff is found to be 0.1378 feet after dividing by
the watershed area of 288,000 acres.
• Finally, the depth of direct runoff in inches is 0.1378 x 12 = 1.65
inches.
14
14
7
Obtain UHG Ordinates
• The ordinates of the unit hydrograph are
obtained by dividing each flow in the direct
runoff hydrograph by the depth of excess
precipitation.
• In this example, the units of the unit
hydrograph would be cfs/inch (of excess
precipitation).
15
15
Final UHG
25000
Storm #1 hydrograph
15000
Flow (cfs)
Storm # 1 unit
hydrograph
10000
Storm #1
baseflow
5000
0
105
112
119
126
133
0
7
14
21
28
35
42
49
56
63
70
77
84
91
98
Time (hrs.)
16
16
8
Determine Duration of UHG
• The duration of the derived unit hydrograph is found by examining the
precipitation for the event and determining that precipitation which is
in excess.
• This is generally accomplished by plotting the precipitation in
hyetograph form and drawing a horizontal line such that the
precipitation above this line is equal to the depth of excess
precipitation as previously determined.
• This horizontal line is generally referred to as the F-index and is based
on the assumption of a constant or uniform infiltration rate.
• The uniform infiltration necessary to cause 1.65 inches of excess
precipitation was determined to be approximately 0.2 inches per hour.
17
17
0.7
0.6
Precipitation (inches)
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Time (hrs.)
18
18
9
Excess Precipitation
1
0.9
Small amounts of
0.6
excess precipitation at
beginning and end may
0.5
be omitted.
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Time (hrs.)
19
19
20
10
Develop S-Curve
60000.00
50000.00
40000.00
Flow (cfs)
30000.00
20000.00
10000.00
0.00
102
108
114
120
0
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60
66
72
78
84
90
96
Time (hrs.)
21
21
22
22
11
Final 1-hour UHG
14000.00 60000.00
12000.00
50000.00
S-curves are
Unit Hydrograph Flow (cfs/inch)
Flow (cfs)
hydrograph resulting
30000.00
from lagging S-
6000.00 curves and
multiplying the
difference by 6. 20000.00
4000.00
10000.00
2000.00
0.00 0.00
Time (hrs.)
23
23
24
24
12
Synthetic UHG’s
• Snyder
• SCS
• Time-area
• IHABBS Implementation Plan :
NOHRSC Homepage
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/98/html/uhg/index.html
25
25
Snyder
• Since peak flow and time of peak flow are two of the most important
parameters characterizing a unit hydrograph, the Snyder method
employs factors defining these parameters, which are then used in the
synthesis of the unit graph (Snyder, 1938).
• The parameters are Cp, the peak flow factor, and Ct, the lag factor.
• The basic assumption in this method is that basins which have similar
physiographic characteristics are located in the same area will have
similar values of Ct and Cp.
• Therefore, for ungaged basins, it is preferred that the basin be near or
similar to gaged basins for which these coefficients can be determined.
26
26
13
Basic Relationships
t LAG Ct ( L Lca )0.3
t LAG
tduration
5.5
t LAG
tbase 3
8
640 AC p
q peak
t LAG
27
27
28
28
14
Final Shape
The final shape of the Snyder unit hydrograph is controlled by the
equations for width at 50% and 75% of the peak of the UHG:
29
29
SCS
SCS Dimensionless UHG Features
1
Flow ratios
Cum. Mass
0.8
0.6
Q/Qpeak
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
T/Tpeak
30
30
15
Dimensionless Ratios
Time Ratios Discharge Ratios Mass Curve Ratios
(t/tp) (q/qp) (Qa/Q)
0 .000 .000
.1 .030 .001
.2 .100 .006
.3 .190 .012
.4 .310 .035
.5 .470 .065
.6 .660 .107
.7 .820 .163
.8 .930 .228
.9 .990 .300
1.0 1.000 .375
1.1 .990 .450
1.2 .930 .522
1.3 .860 .589
1.4 .780 .650
1.5 .680 .700
1.6 .560 .751
1.7 .460 .790
1.8 .390 .822
1.9 .330 .849
2.0 .280 .871
2.2 .207 .908
2.4 .147 .934
2.6 .107 .953
2.8 .077 .967
3.0 .055 .977
3.2 .040 .984
3.4 .029 .989
3.6 .021 .993
3.8 .015 .995
4.0 .011 .997
4.5 .005 .999
5.0 .000 1.000
31
31
Triangular Representation
D SCS Dimensionless UHG & Triangular Representation
1.2 Excess
Precipitation
Tlag
0.8
Flow ratios
Cum. Mass
Triangular
Q/Qpeak
0.6
Point of
Inflection
Tc
0.4
0.2
0
0.0 Tp 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Tb
T/Tpeak
32
32
16
Triangular Representation
D SCS Dimensionless UHG & Triangular Representation
Tlag
Tr Tb - Tp 1.67 x Tp 0.8
Flow ratios
Cum. Mass
Triangular
Q/Qpeak
0.6
Point of
Inflection
Tc
q pT p q pT r qp
0.4
Q= + = (T p +T r )
2 2 2 0.2
0
0.0 Tp 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Tb
2Q T/Tpeak
qp=
T p +T r
654.33 x 2 x A x Q
qp= The 645.33 is the conversion used for
T p +T r
delivering 1-inch of runoff (the area
under the unit hydrograph) from 1-square
484 A Q
qp= mile in 1-hour (3600 seconds).
Tp
33
33
484 ?
484 A Q
qp=
Tp
34
34
17
Duration & Timing?
Again from the triangle
D
T p= +L
2
L = Lag time
L 0.6 * Tc
Tc D 1.7 T p
D
+ 0.6 T c = T p
2
35
35
Time of Concentration
• Regression Eqs.
• Segmental Approach
36
36
18
A Regression Equation
L0.8 (S 1)0.7
Tlag
1900(%Slope) 0.5
37
37
Segmental Approach
• More “hydraulic” in nature
• The parameter being estimated is essentially the time of concentration
or longest travel time within the basin.
• In general, the longest travel time corresponds to the longest drainage
path
• The flow path is broken into segments with the flow in each segment
being represented by some type of flow regime.
• The most common flow representations are overland, sheet, rill and
gully, and channel flow.
38
38
19
A Basic Approach
1
V kS 2
Flow Type K
Small Tributary - Permanent or intermittent 2.1
streams which appear as solid or dashed
blue lines on USGS topographic maps.
Waterway - Any overland flow route which 1.2 Sorell & Hamilton, 1991
is a well defined swale by elevation
contours, but is not a stream section as
defined above.
Sheet Flow - Any other overland flow path 0.48
which does not conform to the definition of
a waterway.
39
39
Triangular Shape
• In general, it can be said that the triangular version will not cause or
introduce noticeable differences in the simulation of a storm event,
particularly when one is concerned with the peak flow.
• For long term simulations, the triangular unit hydrograph does have a
potential impact, due to the shape of the recession limb.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (HEC 1990) fits a Clark unit
hydrograph to match the peak flows estimated by the Snyder unit
hydrograph procedure.
• It is also possible to fit a synthetic or mathematical function to the peak
flow and timing parameters of the desired unit hydrograph.
• Aron and White (1982) fitted a gamma probability distribution using
peak flow and time to peak data.
40
40
20
Fitting a Gamma Distribution
t a e t b
f (t ; a, b)
b (a 1)
a 1
500.0000
450.0000
400.0000
350.0000
300.0000
250.0000
200.0000
150.0000
100.0000
50.0000
0.0000
0.0000 1.0000 2.0000 3.0000 4.0000 5.0000 6.0000
41
41
Time-Area
42
42
21
Time-Area
100%
Time
Q % Area of conc.
Time Time
43
43
Time-Area
44
44
22
Hypothetical Example
• A 190 mi2 watershed is divided into 8 isochrones of travel time.
• The linear reservoir routing coefficient, R, estimated as 5.5 hours.
• A time interval of 2.0 hours will be used for the computations.
8
7
7
6
6
6
2
5 0
4 3
1
45
45
Rule of Thumb
46
46
23
Basin Breakdown
47
47
Incremental Area
40
35
Incremental Area (sqaure miles)
30
25
20
15
10
8
5
7 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7 Time Increment (hrs)
7
6
6
6
2
5 0
4 3
1
48
48
24
Cumulative Time-Area Curve
9
7
Cumulative Area (sqaure miles)
1
8
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
7
Time (hrs)
7
7
6
6
6
2
5 0
4 3
1
49
49
50
50
25
Instantaneous UHG
IUH i cI i (1 c) IUH ( i 1)
2t
c
2 R t
51
51
Computations
Time Inc. Inc. Inst. IUHG 2-hr
(hrs) Area Translated UHG Lagged 2 UHG
(mi2) Flow (cfs) hours (cfs)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
0 0 0 0 0
2 14 4,515 1391 0 700
4 44 14,190 5333 1,391 3,360
6 53 17,093 8955 5,333 7,150
8 79 25,478 14043 8,955 11,500
10 0 0 9717 14,043 11,880
12 6724 9,717 8,220
14 4653 6,724 5,690
16 3220 4,653 3,940
18 2228 3,220 2,720
20 1542 2,228 1,890
22 1067 1,542 1,300
24 738 1,067 900
26 510 738 630
28 352 510 430
30 242 352 300
32 168 242 200
34 116 168 140
36 81 116 100
38 55 81 70
40 39 55 50
42 26 39 30
44 19 26 20
46 13 19 20
48 13
52
52
26
Incremental Areas
90
80
70
Area Increments (square miles)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time Increments (2 hrs)
53
53
Incremental Flows
30000
25000
Translated Unit Hydrograph
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Time Increments (2 hrs)
54
54
27
Instantaneous UHG
16000
14000
12000
10000
Flow (cfs/inch)
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (hrs)
55
55
14000
12000
10000
Flow (cfs/inch)
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (hrs)
56
56
28