DE PA R TM E NT OF C I VI L E N G I N E ERIN G

PRECIPITATION
Second Semester | 2023-2024 | aristontalosig@gmail.com
 Today's
Outline
Topic Highlights
Spatial Interpolation Methods for Rainfall Calculation
Double-Mass Curve
Arithmetic Mean Thiessen Polygon
Method Method

Inverse Distance
Isohyetal Method
Weighting Method

Spatial Interpolation Methods

for Rainfall Calculation
 It uses an isohyet, a line joining
points of equal rainfall magnitude.

The mean of the two consecutive

isohyets is taken as the
precipitation over the inter-
isohyet area.
Isohyetal The inter-isohyet area is

Analysis divided to the total catchment

area to determine the weight
of the rainfall value between
𝒎
two isohyets.
𝑨𝒊−𝟏 𝑷𝒊−𝟏 + 𝑷𝒊
ഥ=෍
𝑷
𝑨 𝟐 It is superior to the first
𝒊=𝟏 two methods.
The isohyets due to a storm in a catchment were drawn and the areas between them
were tabulated. Estimate the mean precipitation due to the storm.

Isohyet (mm) Area (km2) Mean P (mm)

Station – 15.00 15.00 15.00
15.00 – 12.00 75.00 13.50
12.00 – 10.00 23.00 11.00
10.00 – 8.00 52.00 9.00
8.00 – 6.00 18.00 7.00
6.00 – 3.00 16.00 4.50
Total 199.00 km2

𝑚
𝐴𝑖−1 𝑃𝑖−1 + 𝑃𝑖
𝑃ത = ෍
𝐴 2
𝑖=1
15 75 23 52 18 16
𝑃ത = 15 + 13.50 + 11 + 9 +7 + 4.50
199 199 199 199 199 199
ഥ = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟒 𝒎𝒎
𝑷
For a drainage basin of 600 km2, isohyets drawn for a storm gave the following data.
Estimate the average depth of precipitation over the catchment.

Isohyet (cm) Area (km2) Mean P (cm)

15.00 – 12.00 92.00 13.50
12.00 – 9.00 128.00 10.50
9.00 – 6.00 120.00 7.50
6.00 – 3.00 175.00 4.50
3.00 – 1.00 85.00 2.00
𝑚
𝐴𝑖−1 𝑃𝑖−1 + 𝑃𝑖
𝑃ത = ෍
𝐴 2
𝑖=1

92 128 120 175 85

𝑃ത = 13.5 + 10.5 + 7.5 + 4.5 +2
600 600 600 600 600
ഥ = 𝟕. 𝟒𝟏 𝒄𝒎
𝑷
 It assumes that things that are close
to one another are more alike than
those that are farther apart.

It assumes that each measured point

Inverse
has a local influence that diminishes
with distance.

Distance
The weights are proportional to the
inverse of the distance (between the
data point and the prediction

Weighting location) raised to the power value 𝒑.

When 𝒑 = 𝟐, the method is known

𝒎 𝑷𝒊 as the inverse distance squared
σ𝒊=𝟏 𝒑
𝒅 𝒊 weighted interpolation.
𝑷𝒙 =
𝒎 𝟏 It provides more suitable results
σ𝒊=𝟏 𝒑 for mountainous regions where
𝒅 𝒊 topographic impacts on
precipitation are important.
The distances of all stations in a catchment from a certain point were given below.
Estimate the rainfall at the point using inverse distance squared method.

Rainfall (cm) Distance (km) 1/D2 (1/km2)

10.00 1.10 0.8264
8.00 0.50 4.0000
12.00 0.60 2.7778
11.00 1.40 0.5102
5.00 1.40 0.5102
9.00 3.50 0.0816
Total 8.7062
𝑚 𝑃𝑖
σ𝑖=1 𝑝
𝑑 𝑖
𝑃𝑥 =
𝑚 1
σ𝑖=1 𝑝
𝑑 𝑖
0.8264 4.0000 2.7778 0.5102 0.5102 0.0816
𝑃ത = 10 +8 + 12 + 11 +5 +9
8.7062 8.7062 8.7062 8.7062 8.7062 8.7062
ഥ = 𝟗. 𝟒𝟖 𝒄𝒎
𝑷
The distances of all stations in a catchment from a certain point were given below.
Estimate the rainfall at the point using 𝑝 = 3.

Rainfall (cm) Distance (km) 1/D3 (1/km3) 1/D2 (1/km2)

10.00 1.10 0.7513 0.8264
8.00 0.50 8.0000 4.0000
12.00 0.60 4.6296 2.7778
11.00 1.40 0.3644 0.5102
5.00 1.40 0.3644 0.5102
9.00 3.50 0.0233 0.0816
Total 14.133
𝑚 𝑃𝑖
σ𝑖=1 𝑝
𝑑 𝑖
𝑃𝑥 =
𝑚 1
σ𝑖=1 𝑝
𝑑 𝑖
0.7513 8.000 4.6296 0.3644 0.3644 0.0233
𝑃ത = 10 +8 + 12 + 11 +5 +9
14.133 14.133 14.133 14.133 14.133 14.133
ഥ = 𝟗. 𝟒𝟐 𝒄𝒎
𝑷
It is used to check the consistency
of hydrologic data by comparing
data for a single station with that
of a pattern composed of the data
from several other stations in the
area.
The double-mass curve can be
used to adjust inconsistent
precipitation data. Poor correlation
between the variables can prevent
detection of inconsistencies in a
record.
(SEARCY & HARDISON, 1960)
Double-Mass Curve
As long as the relationship
between the variables is a fixed
ratio, the graph of cumulative
data for one variable versus
cumulative data for another
variable is a straight line.
Breaks in the double-mass curve
of such variables are caused by
changes in the relation between
the variables. These changes may
be due to changes in the method
of data collection or to physical
changes that affect the relation.
 𝑴𝒄
𝑷𝒄𝒙 = 𝑷𝒙
𝑴𝒂
𝑷𝒄𝒙 = corrected rainfall at
station 𝒙; 𝑷𝒄 = recorded
rainfall at station 𝒙; 𝑴𝒄 =
corrected slope of the double-
mass curve; 𝑴𝒂 = original
slope of the double-mass curve.

In this way, the older records

are brought to the new regime
of the station.

Double-Mass Curve
The 22-year rainfall data for station A, as Year Rainfall at A (mm)
Mean Rainfall from
Neighboring Stations (mm)
well as the average annual rainfall 1967 163 161
measured at a group of eight 1966 130 146
neighboring stations located in a 1965 137 130
meteorologically homogeneous region, 1964 130 143
are given below. Test the consistency of 1963 140 135
the data measured at station A. 1962 142 163
1961 148 135
1960 95 115
(a) In what year is a change in regime
1959 132 143
indicated? 1958 145 155
(b) Adjust the recorded data at station A 1957 158 164
and determine the mean annual 1956 141 156
precipitation. 1955 196 193
1954 160 128
1953 144 117
1952 196 152
1951 168 155
1950 194 161
1949 162 147
1948 178 146
1947 144 132
1946 177 143
 Mean Rainfall from ഥ (mm)
Year Rainfall at A (mm) σ 𝑷 (mm) σ𝑷
Neighboring Stations (mm)
1967 163 161 163 161
1966 130 146 293 307
1965 137 130 430 437
1964 130 143 560 580
1963 140 135 700 715
1962 142 163 842 878
1961 148 135 990 1013
1960 95 115 1085 1128
1959 132 143 1217 1271
1958 145 155 1362 1426
1957 158 164 1520 1590
1956 141 156 1661 1746
1955 196 193 1857 1939
1954 160 128 2017 2067
1953 144 117 2161 2184
1952 196 152 2357 2336
1951 168 155 2525 2491
1950 194 161 2719 2652
1949 162 147 2881 2799
1948 178 146 3059 2945
1947 144 132 3203 3077
1946 177 143 3380 3220
𝑴𝒄 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝟗𝟔

𝑴𝒂 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟕𝟗𝟔

𝑴𝒄
= 𝟎. 𝟖𝟎𝟓𝟎
𝑴𝒂
 Mean Rainfall from ഥ (mm) Adjusted Final Rainfall
Year Rainfall at A (mm) σ 𝑷 (mm) σ𝑷
Neighboring Stations (mm) Rainfall (mm) (mm)
1967 163 161 163 161 163
1966 130 146 293 307 130
1965 137 130 430 437 137
1964 130 143 560 580 130
1963 140 135 700 715 140
1962 142 163 842 878 142
1961 148 135 990 1013 148
1960 95 115 1085 1128 95
1959 132 143 1217 1271 132
1958 145 155 1362 1426 145
1957 158 164 1520 1590 158
1956 141 156 1661 1746 141
1955 196 193 1857 1939 196
1954 160 128 2017 2067 128.80 129
1953 144 117 2161 2184 115.92 116
1952 196 152 2357 2336 157.78 158
1951 168 155 2525 2491 135.24 135
1950 194 161 2719 2652 156.17 156
1949 162 147 2881 2799 130.41 130
1948 178 146 3059 2945 143.29 143
1947 144 132 3203 3077 115.92 116
1946 177 143 3380 3220 142.49 142
The 22-year rainfall data for station A, as Year Rainfall at A (mm)
Mean Rainfall from
Neighboring Stations (mm)
well as the average annual rainfall 1967 163 161
measured at a group of eight 1966 130 146
neighboring stations located in a 1965 137 130
meteorologically homogeneous region, 1964 130 143
are given below. Test the consistency of 1963 140 135
the data measured at station A. 1962 142 163
1961 148 135
1960 95 115
(a) In what year is a change in regime
1959 132 143
indicated? Answer: 1955 1958 145 155
(b) Adjust the recorded data at station A 1957 158 164
and determine the mean annual 1956 141 156
precipitation. Answer: 140.09 mm 1955 196 193
1954 160 128
1953 144 117
1952 196 152
1951 168 155
1950 194 161
1949 162 147
1948 178 146
1947 144 132
1946 177 143
 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!