De La Salle University

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Graduate School
2401 Taft Avenue 1004 Manila, Philippines

CIV 641M/D ADVANCED HYDROLOGY

Report No.3

Submitted by:

CHRISTINE VEL F. MARCIANO

11589108

Submitted to:

Dr. Marla M. Redillas

Professor

Submitted on:

June 20, 2017

CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 2

Different Methods of Recording Rainfall

All forms of precipitation are measured by the accumulated vertical depth of water on a level

surface. The rain gauges are used to measure the precipitation by collecting or recording rainfall. These

are classified into two: non-recording (manual) and recording (automatic) types of rain gauges. The

main difference between the two gauges is that in recording types, the rainfall is automatically recorded

with respect to time; while non-recording types require an observer to manually take readings and record

time.

1. Non-recording (manual) rain gauges - are commonly used measuring tools. These only

collect rain but do not record data for a particular time period. The collected rain is

measured in a graduated cylinder.

a. The Symon’s rain gauge – is the most common type of non-recording types and

simplest in principle and construction. It consists of a funnel opening into a cylindrical

gauge which may come in different shapes and sizes. Rainfall is calculated by dividing

the volume of the collected water by the area of the cup opening.
CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 3

2. Recording (Automatic) rain gauges - automatically record rainfall without the need of

manual reading. Instead the mechanical assemblies record the total rainfall automatically

on graphing paper. The mass curve of rainfall is plotted by the gauges showing total rainfall

against time.

a. Tipping Bucket type - is channeled into two compartment buckets. When one

compartment is filled with rain water it tips such that it brings the other compartment

in position for filling of rain water. Each tip it automatically activates an electronic

circuit and the data is recorded by a data logger.

b. Weighing bucket type - consists of a storage container that catches the precipitation.

Then the contents which fall into the bucket is measured and recorded a platform with

a spring or lever balance. This instrument provides a plot of the cumulative rainfall

versus time or the mass curve.

c. Natural syphon type ( Float type) – consists of a funnel-shaped collector which catches

the rainfall which is directed into a float chamber, causing the float to rise. There is a

pen attached to the float through a lever system, which records the rainfall on a rotating

drum as the float rises. The float chamber is emptied when full by a syphon mechanism.

d. Radar - is a modern technique for measurement of rainfall rate. It works by releasing

and receiving back electromagnetic energy and measure rainfall intensity. The

measurement may be affected by the trees and plants as obstruction. But the radar gives

results with reasonable accuracy.

CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 4

PROBLEMS:

1. The normal annual precipitation of five rain gauge stations P, Q, R, S and T are 125, 102,

76, 113 and 137 cm, respectively. During a particular storm the precipitation recorded by

stations P, Q, R and S are 13.2, 19.2, 6.8 and 10.2 cm, respectively. The instrument at station

T was inoperative during that storm. Estimate the rainfall at station T during that storm.

STATIONS P Q R S T
NORMAL 125 102 76 113 137
ANNUAL
PRECIPITATION
STORM 13.2 9.2 6.8 10.2 ------
PRECIPITATION
Using normal ratio method: (solving for storm precipitation value at station T)

𝟏 𝑵𝑻
𝑷𝑻 = 𝜮 𝑷
𝒏 𝑵𝒊 𝒊

1 13.2 9.2 6.8 10.2

𝑃𝑇 = (( ) ∗ 137) + (( ) ∗ 137) + (( ) ∗ 137) + (( ) ∗ 137)
4 125 102 76 113

𝑷𝑻 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟖𝟔 𝒄𝒎

2. In a storm of 210 minutes duration, the incremental rainfall at various time intervals is given

below:

Time since start of 30 60 90 120 150 180 210

the storm (min)
Incremental 1.75 2.25 6.0 4.5 2.5 1.5 0.75
rainfall in the time
interval (cm)
a. Hyetograph as bar chart

incremental cumulative rainfall

time since
rainfall rainfall intensity
start (min)
(cm) (cm) (cm/min)
30 1.75 1.75 3.5
60 2.25 4 4.5
90 6 10 12
120 4.5 14.5 9
150 2.5 17 5
180 1.5 18.5 3
210 0.75 19.25 1.5
CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 5

b. ordinates of the mass curve of rainfall

c. average intensity of storm over the duration of the storm

3. A tropical cyclone produces 240 mm of rainfall during a period of 5 days. The figure below gives the

percentage mass curve of this rainfall event. Plot the hyetograph using daily time intervals.

a. Please quantify in mm/a.

CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 6

7. The mass curve of rainfall in a storm of total duration 270 min is given below.

CUMULATIVE
TIME RAINFALL 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270
(mm)
0 0
30 6 6
60 18 12 18
90 21 3 15 21
120 36 15 18 30 36
150 43 7 22 25 37 43
180 49 6 13 28 31 43 49
210 52 3 9 16 31 34 46 52
240 53 1 4 10 17 32 35 47 53
270 54 1 2 5 11 18 33 36 54 54

Max.
Duration (min) Max. depth
intensity

30 30 15
60 22 22
90 20 30
120 18.5 37
150 17.2 43
180 16.3 49
210 14.9 52
240 13.3 53
270 12 54
CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 7

b. and c. maximum intensity duration curve and maximum depth duration curve for the storm
CIV 641M – ADVANCED HYDROLOGY 8

References

http://www.aboutcivil.org/measurement-of-precipitation.html

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/water/rainfall/types-of-rain- gauge-non-recording-and-

recording-types/60407/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/524569/10-deadliest-natural-disasters-in-the-philippines