RAIN GAUGE NETWORK

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 Rain gauge Density
• To obtain reliable rainfall records, the various rain gauges should be evenly and uniformly distributed within a given
Ncatchment.
• I The rain gauges density or network density is define as the ratio of total area of the catchment to the total number
Tof rain gauges in the catchment.
•AThe total number of rain gauges installed within a given catchment area should neither be too many as to be costly

Gnor should be to less as to give unreliable results.

A
R
T
A
L
A
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 OLD GUIDELINES AS PER IS:4987-1968

N As per IS: 4987-1994, the recommended rain gauge density is as:

I
1) In plains: 1 station per 520 km2
T
2) Moderately elevated area: 1 station in 260 to 390 km2
A
3) Hilly areas: 1 station in 130 km 2
G
A 4) At least 10% of the rain gauge stations should be equipped with
R automatic or recording rain gauge to know the intensity of
T rainfall.
A
L
A
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 REVISED GUIDELINES AS PER IS:4987-1994

N As per IS: 4987-1994, the recommended rain gauge density is as:

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1) In plains: 1 station per 500 km2
T
2) Moderately elevation of 1000 m: 1 station in 250 to 400 km2
A
3) Hilly areas: 1 station in 150 km2
G
A 4) At least 10% of the rain gauge stations should be equipped with
R automatic or recording rain gauge to know the intensity of
T rainfall.
A
L
A
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OPTICAL NUMBER OF RAIN
GAUGE BASED ON
STATISTICAL METHOD

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 OPTIMUM NUMBER OF RAIN GAUGE STATIONS

NAdequacy of Rain Gauge Station:-

1) Quantity of being sufficient or minimum number of station required to represent a reliable picture of the
I
intensity & duration of rainfall in the areais called adequate number of station
T
2) Number of rain gauge station in a given catchment must be sufficient so that the error in precipitation
A measurement is not more than acceptable value.
G
A • Optimum number of stations:
R Coefficient of variation of the rainfall
N =  Cv 
2
values at the existing ‘m’ stations
T   
A
L Optimum number of stations Allowable degree of error in
A the estimate of the mean
rainfall 6
 OPTIMUM NUMBER OF RAIN GAUGE STATIONS

• If there are m stations in the catchment each recording rainfall values

P1,P2,…Pm in a known time, the coefficient of variation Cv is calculated as:

100 m−1
Cv = Coefficient of variation
P

 (P − P )
m 2
i
 m−1 = 1 Standard deviation
m −1

1 m P
P =  i  Mean precipitation
m 1 

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 PRACTICE PROBLEM-1

NThere are four rain gauge stations existing in the catchment. The
I
T average annual rainfall values at these stations are 750, 600, 420 &
A 500 mm respectively. Determine the optimum number of a rain gauges
G in the catchment if it is desired to limit the error in the mean value of
A
a rainfall in the catchment to 10%. Is the number of rain-gauge in
R
T that catchment sufficient to record the amount of rainfall. If not, how
A many more gauges are required to be installed?
L
A
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 SOLUTION

N
N =  Cv 
2

I
  
T
A (750 + 600 + 420 + 500)
𝑃ത = = 567.5 mm
4
G
A ((750− 567.5)2 + (600− 567.5)2 +(420− 567.5)2 + (500− 567.5)2 )
σm-1 =
R 4−1

T σm-1 = 142.21
A (100 x 142.21)
Cv= = 25.06
L 567.5
A Optimum Number, N = (25.06 / 10)2 = 6.28 say 7
 ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM

N A catchment has six rain gauge stations. In a year, the annual rain gauge recorded by the gauges are as
I follows

T Station A B C D E F
A Rainfall (cm) 82.6 102.9 180.3 110.3 98.8 136.7

G
A For a 10 % error in the estimation of the mean rainfall, calculate the optimum number of stations
in the catchment
R
T
A
L
A
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CHECK FOR CONTINUITY
AND CONSISTENCY OF
RAINFALL DATA

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 PREPARATION OF RAINFALL DATA

N
❑ Before using of rainfall data for any hydrological application, It is necessary to check
I the data for continuity and consistency.
T
A❑ Continuity: means availability of continuous record of previous rainfall
G
Cause of Discontinuity of data
A Absent of Observer
R Failure of Instruments
T
A
L
A
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 PREPARATION OF RAINFALL DATA
Consistency: means that rainfall data of previous year should be consistent with the
Npresent environmental condition.
I
T Causes of inconsistency in records
A • Shifting of rain gauge to a new location: Change in environment
G • Change in the surrounding environment
A
R
❑ Like if there is forest in a particular area which did not exist 15 years ago then previous
T records will not be consistent with current record
A
❑ Air passing over forest pick up moisture given off by trees and plants, fueling rain. When
L trees disappear, affect the amount and pattern of rain
A
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 Continuity: Estimation of Missing Data
• It is necessary to estimate that missing data.
N
I• To estimate the data, three or more stations close to this station are selected.
T
• Following are the different methods to calculate the missing data:
A
1) Arithmetic Mean Method.
G
2) Normal Ratio Method.
A
R
T
A
L
A
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 Arithmetic Mean Method:-

Px = P1 + P2 + P3 + ... + Pm 
1
m
Where, Px, P1, P2,…,Pn = Rainfall at different station.
m = number of known rainfall station.
• Disadvantage when there is wide variation of rainfall in the area

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Normal Precipitation

❑ When we deal with rainfall data, we often have to deal with long term rainfall records

❑ The normal rainfall is the average value of rainfall at a particular date, month or year over a
specified 30-year period.

❑ 30 year normal rainfall are recomputed every decade to account for change in environment and
land use, because these factors may affect amount of rainfall on that area.

❑ Average rainfall of India is 118-120 cm

Normal Ratio Method

N x  P1 P2 P3 Pm 
Px =  + + + ... + 
m  N1 N 2 N3 Nm 

Where, Px, P1, P2,…,Pn = Rainfall at different station.

Nx, N1, N2…, Nn = normal rainfall

m = Number of known rainfall station.

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 Which Method to use?

Take 10 % from both side (Less or more than 10 %) of the normal rainfall of the missing
stations
Check whether this range falls within the Normal value of other stations or not.
If Yes goes for Arithmetic mean method, otherwise go for Normal Ratio

NA=75cm, PA=60cm
NB=100cm, P B=70cm
NC=60cm, P C=90cm
ND=80cm, P D=? cm

90% of 80cm to 110% of 80cm

0.9*80 to 1.1*80
(72cm to 88cm)

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 PROBLEM 1

NThe normal annual rainfall at stations A, B, C, and D in a basin are

I 80.97, 67.59,76.28 and 92.01 cm respectively. In the year 1975, the
Tstation D was inoperative and the stations A, B and C recorded annual
Aprecipitations of 91.11, 72.23 and 79.89 cm respectively. Estimate the
Grainfall at station D in that year
A
R
T
A
L
A
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SOLUTION

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