MEAN

PRECIPITATION
OVER AN AREA
 Before using the rainfall records of a station, check
the data for continuity and consistency.

The continuity of record may be broken with missing

data due to reasons such as damaged or faulty
instrument during a period
PREPARATION
OF DATA However, missing data can be estimated using data of
the neighboring stations.

In these calculations, the normal rainfall is used as a

standard of comparison.
PREPARATION OF DATA
Normal Rainfall
-the average value of rainfall at a particular date, month or year
over a specified 30-year period.
-recomputed every decade

Normal annual precipitation at Station A means the average

annual precipitation at A based on a specified 30-year record.
ESTIMATION OF MISSING DATA
Simple Arithmetic Average

If the normal annual precipitations at various stations are within about 10% of
the normal annual precipitation at Station X, then a simple arithmetic average
procedure is followed to estimate Px.

1
𝑃𝑥 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + ⋯ + 𝑃𝑚
𝑀
ESTIMATION OF MISSING DATA
Normal Ratio Method

If the normal annual precipitations vary considerably, then Px is estimated by

weighing the precipitation at the various stations by the ratios of normal
annual precipitations.

𝑁𝑥 𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃𝑚
𝑃𝑥 = + +⋯
𝑀 𝑁1 𝑁2 𝑁𝑚
ESTIMATION OF MISSING DATA

Sample Problem

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

80.79, 67.59, 76.28, and 92.01cm respectively. In the year 1975, the
Station D was inoperative and the Stations A, B, and C recorded annual
precipitations of 91.11, 72.23, and 79.89cm respectively. Estimate the
rainfall at Station D in that year.
ESTIMATION OF MISSING DATA

Solution:

𝑁𝑥 𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃𝑚
𝑷𝒙 = + +⋯
𝑀 𝑁1 𝑁2 𝑁𝑚
92.01 91.11 72.23 79.89
𝑷𝑫 = × + + = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟒𝟖𝐜𝐦
3 80.79 67.59 76.28
MEAN PRECIPITATION OVER AN AREA

✓Rain gauges represent only point sampling of the areal distribution of

a storm.
✓In practice, hydrological analysis requires a knowledge of the rainfall
over an area.
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

1. Arithmetical-Mean Method
2. Thiessen-Mean Method
3. Isohyetal Method
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

1. Arithmetical-Mean Method
2. Thiessen-Mean Method
3. Isohyetal Method
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

Arithmetical-Mean Method
-is a preferable method when the rainfall measured at various stations show little
variation
𝑁
𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + ⋯ 𝑃𝑖 + ⋯ + 𝑃𝑛 1
𝑃= = ෍ 𝑃𝑖
𝑁 𝑁
𝑡=1

P1, P2…Pi…Pn = rainfall values

N = number of stations within an area
P = mean precipitation over the area
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

ARITHMETICAL-MEAN METHOD
Sample Problem
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

1. Arithmetical-Mean Method
2. Thiessen-Mean Method
3. Isohyetal Method
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

Thiessen-Mean Method
-The rainfall recorded at each station is given a weightage on the basis of an area
closest to the station

1. The catchment area is drawn to scale.

2. Positions of the gauges are marked on drawing.
3. Stations are joined to form a network of triangles.
4. Perpendicular bisectors for each of the sides of the triangle are established.
5. The boundary of the catchment is considered as the outer limit of the polygon
(which are called Thiessen Polygons).
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

THIESSEN-MEAN METHOD

𝑨𝒊
is called the
𝑨
weightage factor for
each station
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

THIESSEN-MEAN METHOD Sample Problem

METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

THIESSEN-MEAN METHOD Sample Problem

METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

THIESSEN-MEAN METHOD Sample Problem

METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

Thiessen-Mean Method
-superior to arithmetic-average method as:
▪ some weightage is given to the various stations on a rational basis
▪ rain gauge stations outside the catchment are also used effectively

-unique for each gage network

-does not allow for orographic effects (those due to elevation changes), but is
probably the most widely used of the three available methods.
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

1. Arithmetical-Mean Method
2. Thiessen-Mean Method
3. Isohyetal Method
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

ISOHYETAL METHOD
-The superior method in determining precipitation when stations are large in number

Process:
1. The catchment area is drawn to scale and the raingauge stations are marked.
2. The recorded values are marked on a plot at appropriate stations.
3. The isohyets (which are lines joining points of equal rainfall magnitude) are
drawn.
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

ISOHYETAL METHOD
METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

ISOHYETAL METHOD Sample Problem

METHODS OF CONVERSION
Point Rainfall to Average Precipitation Over an Area

ISOHYETAL METHOD Sample Problem

 END OF
PRESENTATION