Department Of Civil Engineering

Topic: Types of Precipitation &factors affecting RUnnoff

Submitted By: Mohsin Ali

Submitted to: Engr. Sami Ullah

Roll No.: Cve172021

Date: 1 April 2020

Assignment Of Engineering Hydrology

Types Of Precipitation.
There are only so many forms water can take so there are a limited number of precipitation
types.
The main types include:
1.Rain
2.Drizzle
3.Snow
4.Hail
5.Sleet
6.Freezing Rain
 Rain.
Rainfall is the most common form of precipitation and occurs when water droplets grow to a
size of 0.5 mm or more.
Rainfall can be very light.
Moderate or
very heavy (resulting in flooding).
 Drizzle.
If the size of the droplet is less than 0.5 mm the precipitation is called drizzle.
 Snow.
Snow is the precipitation in the form of solid or frozen water.
Snow is formed when the temperature is below freezing and falls down to the surface.
If the temperature in the atmosphere is not sufficient to melt the snow we receive snowfall.
 Hail.
Hail is commonly observed during thunderstorms and consists of very large pieces of ice (5 mm
or larger).
 Sleet.
Sleet occurs when snow partially melts during its fall through warm layers and it refreezes when
the drops fall through freezing conditions.
Hail is the precipitation in which we receive snow pellets.
 Freezing rain.
Freezing rain happens when supercooled water droplets fall on surfaces that have freezing
temperatures. This causes the water to freeze on the surfaces, such as roads, pavements, cars,
etc.
Runoff.
Runoff can be defined as the portion of the precipitation that makes it's way
towards rivers or oceans as like surface or subsurface flow.
Portion which is not absorbed by the deep strata.
Runoff occurs only when the rate of
precipitation exceeds the rate at which water may infiltrate into the soil.

Factors Affecting Runoff.

1. Precipitation characteristics.
2. Shape and size of the catchment.
3. Topography.
4. Geological characteristics.
5. Meteorological characteristics.
6. Character of the catchment surface.
7. Storage characteristics.

 Precipitation characteristics.
It is the most important factor for runoff.
Runoff depends on the type of the storm
and it's duration which causes precipitation.
Runoff depends on the intensity of rainfall.
More the rainfall more will be runoff.
If the rainfall intensity is very less and it rains as
light showers then much of the water will be lost in
infiltration & evaporation resulting less runoff.
If precipitation is in case of snow then less runoff.
 Shape and size of the catchment.
The size of catchment has a definite effect on the runoff.
More the area more will be the runoff so the shape will have a definite effect on the runoff.
In case of a fan-shaped catchment area the base period of the resulting hydrograph will be less
and thus more peak flow may be expected.
In case of an elongated catchment the base period of the resulting hydrograph will be
comparatively more and thus more will be the runoff.

 Topography.
The nature of the soil its permeability has an effect on the infiltration rate and has indirect
effect on the runoff.
Impervious tock outcrops will increase the runoff.
Also impervious sub-surface layers at higher levels than groundwater table level increase the
runoff.
Faults fissures and cracks in the surface formations will allow more infiltration of the overland
flow and the water thus infiltrated may find its opening in the adjoining catchment area or the
same catchment somewhere else and may indirectly affect the runoff.
. Geological characteristics.
It is one of the important factor.
It includes the type of surface soil subsoil type of rock and their permeability characteristics.
If soil and subsoil is porous seepage will be more resulting reduction of the peak flood.
If the surface is rocky then absorption will be nil resulting more runoff.
If rocks have fissures are porous in nature have lava funnels water will be lost resulting less
runoff.
 Meteorological characteristics.
Type of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc.)
Rainfall intensity, amount, duration and distribution over basin
 Evapotranspiration factors like temperature, relative humidity, etc
The temperature has an effect on the evaporation and infiltration and may indirectly affect the
runoff. The barometric pressure altitude and wind will not only affect the storm and its
movement but may also affect the runoff.
 Physical geo lo gy a n d t op o gr aph y o f la nd surfa ce .
Soil type and characteristics.
Vegetation.
Slope of the drainage area .
Ponds, lakes, reservoirs like in a Basin which prevent or delay runoff.
from continuing downstream.
 Land use activities.
 Development and urbanization
Agricultural practices
 Storage characteristics.
The rainwater after meeting all abstractions first flows through small rivulets and then flows to
bigger ones.
The pattern of the various tributaries normally known as drainage net or drainage pattern will
affect drainage of the surface low.
In each case the draining time will differ and will affect the infiltration and thus indirectly the
runoff.
Some Other factors effecting Runoff.
Rainfall Amount:
High rainfall amounts produce more runoff than low rainfall amounts.
Rainfall intensity:
For the same total amounts of rain more runoff will occur with rain falling in short periods of
time as opposed to rain falling in a longer period of time.
Soil type:
More runoff will occur with clay soils while sandy soils are able to absorb more rainfall.
Soil moisture:
When the top layer of soil is moist there will be more runoff than if the soil moisture content is
low.
Vegetation:
Vegetative cover may slow the runoff from rainfall. As vegetation takes-in water the runoff is
retarded.
Topography:
Runoff varies as the terrain varies. A mountainous
Terrain will have a faster runoff rate than one of a flat terrain.
State of ground:
Rainfall over frozen ground produces more runoff than rainfall over non-frozen ground.