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Analysis of Precipitation 
Data

Depth‐Area‐Duration Relationships
The areal distribution
characteristics of a storm of
given duration is reflected in its
depth‐area relationship. A few
aspects of the interdependency of
depth, area and duration of storms
are discussed as below.

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Example 3.13
The isohyetal map shown in Fig. 3.9 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
centre having precipitation of 30 cm. Find:
a. The average precipitation of the catchment by
isohyetal method.
b. The Equivalent Uniform Depth (EUD) of rain for
depth‐area‐duration curve.

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Isohyet (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

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Isohyet Area  Cumm.  Mean  Volume  Cumm.

(cm) Enclosed  Area  Isohyet (x 106) Volume  EUD 
(km2) Enclosed  (cm) cm3 (x 106) (cm)
(km2) cm3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 = 6 / 3
30 60 60 30.00 18.00 18.00 30.00
30 and 25 100 160 27.50 27.50 45.50 28.44
25 and 20 90 250 22.50 20.25 65.75 26.30
20 and 15 130 380 17.50 22.75 88.50 23.29
15 and 10 200 580 12.50 25.00 113.50 19.57
10 and 5 400 980 7.50 30.00 143.50 14.64
Mean Precipitation = 14.64 cm

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Preparation of DAD curves involve

considerable computational effort and
requires meteorological and
topographical information of the
region. Detailed data on severest storms in
the past are needed. DAD curves are
essential to develop design storms for use in
computing the design flood in the
hydrological design of major structures such
as dams, bridges, barrages, etc.

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Frequency of Point Rainfall

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Maximum Intensity‐Duration‐Frequency 
Relationship

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