LESSON 3 LESSON 3 LESSON 3 LESSON 3

Unit Hydrograph Method Unit Hydrograph Method Unit Hydrograph Method Unit Hydrograph Method
and Theory and Theory and Theory and Theory
Monthly Rainfall Distribution Monthly Rainfall Distribution
Average Annual Average Annual Precipitation Precipitation
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
Interception Interception water so retained as some portion of water so retained as some portion of Interception Interception water so retained as some portion of water so retained as some portion of
precipitation are intercepted by leaves and precipitation are intercepted by leaves and
vegetation stems vegetation stems gg
Depression storage Depression storage includes water retained as includes water retained as
puddles in surface depression puddles in surface depression p p p p
Soil moisture Soil moisture held as capillary water in smaller held as capillary water in smaller
pore spaces of the soil or as hygroscopic water pore spaces of the soil or as hygroscopic water po e spaces o t e so o as yg oscop c ate po e spaces o t e so o as yg oscop c ate
adsorbed on the surface of soil particles adsorbed on the surface of soil particles
Basin recharge Basin recharge portion of precipitation that does not portion of precipitation that does not gg p p p p p p
contribute to contribute to streamflow streamflow or groundwater or groundwater
(i.e., interception, depression storage & basin recharge) (i.e., interception, depression storage & basin recharge)
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
Rainwater or
Snow Melt
Overland Flow
Vertical
Overland Flow
(Surface Runoff)
Interflow
Vertical
Percolation
Path of rainwater or snowmelt to a stream Path of rainwater or snowmelt to a stream
((exclusive of water withheld as basin recharge exclusive of water withheld as basin recharge)% )%
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
Direct Runoff (DRO) Direct Runoff (DRO) overland flow and interflow overland flow and interflow Direct Runoff (DRO) Direct Runoff (DRO) overland flow and interflow overland flow and interflow
Baseflow Baseflow water flowing in a stream that is derived from water flowing in a stream that is derived from
groundwater groundwater groundwater groundwater
Effluent Streams Effluent Streams stream channels that have perennial stream channels that have perennial
flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
Direct Runoff (DRO) Direct Runoff (DRO) overland flow and interflow overland flow and interflow Direct Runoff (DRO) Direct Runoff (DRO) overland flow and interflow overland flow and interflow
Baseflow Baseflow water flowing in a stream that is derived from water flowing in a stream that is derived from
groundwater groundwater groundwater groundwater
Effluent Streams Effluent Streams stream channels that have perennial stream channels that have perennial
flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table flow; below groundwater table
Influent Streams Influent Streams stream channels which go dry if stream channels which go dry if
much time elapses between rains much time elapses between rains i e i e intermittent intermittent much time elapses between rains, much time elapses between rains, i.e., i.e., intermittent intermittent
streams streams
Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff Basin Recharge and Runoff
The Hyetograph The Hyetograph The Hyetograph The Hyetograph
Graph of Rainfall Rate ( Graph of Rainfall Rate (in/hr or mm/hr) in/hr or mm/hr) vs vs Time Time
(hr) at a single gage location (hr) at a single gage location (hr) at a single gage location (hr) at a single gage location
Usually plotted as a bar chart of gross RF Usually plotted as a bar chart of gross RF
Net Rainfall is found by subtracting infiltration Net Rainfall is found by subtracting infiltration
Integration of Net Rainfall over time = Integration of Net Rainfall over time =
Direct Direct Runoff Volume Runoff Volume (DRO) ( (DRO) (in or mm) in or mm) over a over a
Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed
Mass Curves & Rainfall Mass Curves & Rainfall Mass Curves & Rainfall Mass Curves & Rainfall
Hyetographs Hyetographs y g p y g p
Instantaneous Hydrograph Instantaneous Hydrograph Instantaneous Hydrograph Instantaneous Hydrograph
Rainfall falls over the basin
Intensity I reaches the outlet -
I
i
y
response based on travel time
Produces a total storm; response
S ll B i S ll B i
Produces a total storm; response
hydrograph as shown
Littl d l d t
Small Basin Small Basin
Little delay and no storage
The above only occurs in small
QQ
i i
= I = I
ii
AA
urban basins or parking lots
Unit Hydrograph (UH) Method Unit Hydrograph (UH) Method Unit Hydrograph (UH) Method Unit Hydrograph (UH) Method
Linear transform method
Converts complex rainfall to
P
i
p
streamflow at outlet
Produces a total storm
i
U
j
Produces a total storm
hydrograph from given UH
U d i l t h d Used in complex watersheds
Each subarea is unique
Q
Storage effects considered
T
Q
n
= P
n
U
1
+ P
n-1
U
2
+ P
n-2
U
3
+ +P
1
U
j
Time Time Area Area Time Time--Area Area
Method Method Method Method
Watershed travel times
Time Area Graph
Rainfall Intensities Rainfall Intensities
Add and Lag Method
Resulting Hydrograph
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
Peak Flow at Q Peak Flow at Q
22
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
Q
1
= P
1
* A
1
Q
2
= P
2
*A
1
+ P
1
*A
2
Q =P *A + P *A Q
3
=P
3
*A
1
+ P
2
*A
2
+ P
1
*A
3
And So Forth
At time step 2, P At time step 2, P
22
over A over A
11
and P and P
11
over A over A
22
arrive at the same time arrive at the same time --
Similar for time step 3 with 3 contributors Similar for time step 3 with 3 contributors
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
Example. Example. Develop the hydrograph for the watershed area Develop the hydrograph for the watershed area
given below for a rainfall intensity of 0.5 in/hr falling given below for a rainfall intensity of 0.5 in/hr falling
uniformly for 4 hours uniformly for 4 hours uniformly for 4 hours. uniformly for 4 hours.
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
Time
(hr)
Hyetograph
Ordinate
R1:Rn
Basin No. Time to Gage Basin Area
A1:An
(ac) ( ) (ac)
0
1 0.5 A 1 100
2 0.5 B 2 200
3 0.5 C 3 300
4 0 5 D 4 100 4 0.5 D 4 100
5 0.5
66
7
8
9
The Hydrograph The Hydrograph The Hydrograph The Hydrograph
Graph of discharge vs. time at a single location Graph of discharge vs. time at a single location
Rising Limb, Crest Segment, Falling Limb Rising Limb, Crest Segment, Falling Limb, and , and
R i R i Recession Recession
Base Flow is usually subtracted to yield DRO Base Flow is usually subtracted to yield DRO Base Flow is usually subtracted to yield DRO Base Flow is usually subtracted to yield DRO
Peak gives the maximum flow rate for the event Peak gives the maximum flow rate for the event gg
Area under curve yields volume of runoff ( Area under curve yields volume of runoff (in or in or
mm mm))
Hydrograph Hydrograph -- Watershed Flow Watershed Flow y g p y g p
Response to Rainfall Response to Rainfall
Peak Flow and time to
peak relate to area/shape
Peak Flow
Lag or time to peak
of watershed
Area under curve is the
Hydrograph
l
o
w
Peak Flow
RF RF
Area under curve is the
volume of DRO
Time Base is the time that
Volume of Runoff
DRO
O
u
t
f
l
Time Base is the time that
flow exceeds baseflow
Time to peak or Lag is
Time Base
Time to peak or Lag is
measured from center of
mass of rainfall pattern
Time
mass of rainfall pattern
Rainfall and Runoff Response Rainfall and Runoff Response Rainfall and Runoff Response Rainfall and Runoff Response
Fl M d
2000 0.60
Flow Measured
from USGS Gage 403
Inside Harris Gully
1400
1600
1800
s
) 0.40
0.50
800
1000
1200
O
u
t
f
l
o
w

(
c
f
s
0.30 R
a
i
n
f
a
l
l
(
i
n
)
QQ
RF RF
Rainfall Measured
from USGS Gage 400
400
600
0.10
0.20
from USGS Gage 400
at Harris Gully Outlet
0
200
6:00 8:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 0:00
Time
0.00
i i i i i i i i
February 12, 1997 on Harris Gully
Net Rainfall * Area = integration of direct runoff hydrograph Net Rainfall * Area = integration of direct runoff hydrograph
Vol Vol under blue bars * Area = Volume under red line (hydrograph) under blue bars * Area = Volume under red line (hydrograph)
Hydrograph Hydrograph Flood Routing Flood Routing
f P i t 1 t P i t 2 f P i t 1 t P i t 2 from Point 1 to Point 2 from Point 1 to Point 2
O l d fl i t Once overland flow arrives at a
stream - becomes channel flow
Channel flow begins as low flow
and increases with accumulation
Flood wave moves downstream
at a predictable velocity at a predictable velocity
Subarea flows contribute to the Subarea flows contribute to the
flood wave along the stream
Wave maximum near outlet
**
Hydrograph Hydrograph Flood Routing Flood Routing
fffrom from Pt 1 to Pt 4 in the Stream Pt 1 to Pt 4 in the Stream
G and F to Pt 1 G and F to Pt 1
2
11
G and F to Pt 1 G and F to Pt 1
Pt Pt 1 to Pt 1 to Pt 2 2
D to Pt 2 D to Pt 2
2
D to Pt 2 D to Pt 2
Pt Pt 2 to Pt 3 2 to Pt 3
EE, C, and B to Pt3 , C, and B to Pt3
33
, , , ,
Pt Pt 3 to Pt 4 3 to Pt 4
A A to Pt 4 to Pt 4
4
Compute Compute
4
Final hydrograph Final hydrograph
Hydrograph Flood Routing to Hydrograph Flood Routing to
N t D t L ti N t D t L ti Next Downstream Location Next Downstream Location
Crest
Rising
Falling
Limb
1
Recession
Rising
Limb
Limb
2
Time Base of Hydrograph
Flood wave is Flood wave is lagged lagged and and attenuated attenuated as it moves downstream as it moves downstream
Brays Bayou Brays Bayou Brays Bayou Brays Bayou
High Flow High Flow
Kissimee River Kissimee River -- The Everglades The Everglades Kissimee River Kissimee River The Everglades The Everglades
II--45 over Clear Creek 45 over Clear Creek -- 1979 1979 II 45 over Clear Creek 45 over Clear Creek 1979 1979
California California - - Temecula Temecula
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina -- Most Most
Damaging Storm in U S History Damaging Storm in U S History Damaging Storm in U.S. History Damaging Storm in U.S. History
Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi
New Orleans New Orleans
$100 billion loss $100 billion loss
Surface Flow Distribution Surface Flow Distribution Surface Flow Distribution Surface Flow Distribution
Hortons Infiltration Concept Hortons Infiltration Concept pp
f(t) = Rate of water loss into soil f(t) = Rate of water loss into soil
f = f
c
+ (f
o
- f
c
) exp (-kt)
f
c
= final rate value
f
o
= initial rate value
K d t K = decay rate
Can integrate to get Can integrate to get
F(t) = Vol of infiltration F(t) Vol of infiltration
Hortons Hortons Equation Equation Horton s Horton s Equation Equation
uu index Method index Method uu index Method index Method
Assumes constant Assumes constant
rate over time of
rainfall
Volume above line is
DRO
Volume below line is Volume below line is
F(t)
C t d b t i l Computed by trial
and error
Example of Example of u u Index Index Example of Example of u u Index Index
DRO
DRO
VOL Infiltration F(t) ( )
Example of Example of u u Index Index Example of Example of u u Index Index
A 4 9 i f DRO f 560 B i Assume 4.9 in of DRO from a 560 acre Basin
Set up a general Eqn for u u index index
2(1.4 - uu) + 3(2.3 ) + 3(2.3 uu) +2(1.1 ) +2(1.1 uu))
+3(0.7- uu) + 2(0.3 ) + 2(0.3 uu) = 4.9 ) = 4.9
Find u by trial and error by assuming
a value and solving
Try u = 1.5 in/hr; And it only accounts for 0.8 x 3 = 2.4 in
f of DRO
u = 0.5 in/hr yields 9.0 in of DRO - too much DRO
u = 1.0 in/hr or 2(.4) +3(1.3)+2(.1) = 4.9 inches
M fi ld D M fi ld D L k T i L k T i Mansfield Dam Mansfield Dam -- Lake Travis Lake Travis
Unit Hydrographs Unit Hydrographs
S Curve Method
Synthetic UH Synthetic UH
Multi-period storms
UH Applications
Kinematic Wave
Hydrograph computed at outlet of Hydrograph computed at outlet of
each subarea each subarea
Hydrographs routed to the outlet Hydrographs routed to the outlet
of the watershed of the watershed
Hydrographs routed thru one reach of Hydrographs routed thru one reach of
the watershed the watershed
I Q = dS/dt
Di t ib ti f R i f ll Di t ib ti f R i f ll Distribution of Rainfall Distribution of Rainfall
Infiltration Infiltration
Detention Storage Detention Storage
Depression Storage Depression Storage
Direct Direct Runoff Runoff Direct Direct Runoff Runoff
H d h R l ti H d h R l ti Hydrograph Relations Hydrograph Relations
Net Rainfall Net Rainfall
Rising Limb Rising Limb Rising Limb Rising Limb
Crest Crest
Falling Limb Falling Limb
Recession Recession
Base Flow Base Flow Base Flow Base Flow
Direct Runoff DRO Direct Runoff DRO
Base Flow Methods Base Flow Methods Base Flow Methods Base Flow Methods
Straight Line Straight Line
ABC ti th ABC ti th ABC continue the ABC continue the
recession recession -- concave concave
Empirical method Empirical method
I filt ti L C I filt ti L C Infiltration Loss Curves Infiltration Loss Curves
11 H t M th d H t M th d 1. 1. Horton Method Horton Method
2. 2. uu Method Method
3. 3. Initial and Initial and
Constant Loss Constant Loss Constant Loss Constant Loss
Typical Rainfall and Typical Rainfall and Typical Rainfall and Typical Rainfall and
Hydrograph Response Hydrograph Response Hydrograph Response Hydrograph Response
Time Time Area Area Time Time--Area Area
Method Method Method Method
Watershed Watershed Isochrone Isochrone
Hyetographs Hyetographs
Time Area Histograms Time Area Histograms Time Area Histograms Time Area Histograms
Add and Lag Method Add and Lag Method
Resulting Hydrograph Resulting Hydrograph
Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph Time Area Hydrograph
P1 * A1 P1 * A1 P1 * A1 P1 * A1
P2*A2 + P1*A2 P2*A2 + P1*A2
P3*A1 + P2*A2 P3*A1 + P2*A2
++ P1*A3 P1*A3 + + P1*A3 P1*A3
Unit Hydrograph Unit Hydrograph Unit Hydrograph Unit Hydrograph
Linear Methods
Tested in numerous WS Tested in numerous WS
Stood the test of time
Regional calibration
Still most used approach Still most used approach
Basin response Basin response with a volume of 1 in (25 mm) of Direct with a volume of 1 in (25 mm) of Direct
Runoff resulting from a rainstorm of specified duration Runoff resulting from a rainstorm of specified duration
and areal pattern and areal pattern
Measured Hydrograph
Adjusted for Net RF
Adjusted for Adjusted for
2 inches 2 inches
Adjusted for Adjusted for
Net Rainfall Net Rainfall
Of 1 Inch Of 1 Inch Of 1 Inch Of 1 Inch
Base Flow and Infiltration Base Flow and Infiltration Base Flow and Infiltration Base Flow and Infiltration
Subtract BF Subtract BF
Net rainfall Net rainfall
Subtract BF Subtract BF
Subtract Infiltration Subtract Infiltration
Infiltration Infiltration
Net rainfall Net rainfall
Determine Net Rain Determine Net Rain
Integrate hydrograph Integrate hydrograph
Peak Flow Peak Flow
Integrate hydrograph Integrate hydrograph
Adjust hydrograph Adjust hydrograph
Peak Flow Peak Flow
ordinates to match net ordinates to match net
rainfall Vol rainfall Vol
Determine UH Determine UH
D = 2 D = 2--Hr Unit Hydrograph Hr Unit Hydrograph D = 2 D = 2--Hr Unit Hydrograph Hr Unit Hydrograph
Adjusted Net Rainfall Adjusted Net Rainfall
one inch over basin one inch over basin
QQ
pp
QQ
pp
Change UH Duration Change UH Duration Change UH Duration Change UH Duration
Consider Consider 1 hr 1 hr UH UH
Add and Lag two UH Add and Lag two UH
by one hour by one hour by one hour by one hour
Sum and divide by 2 Sum and divide by 2
R lt i R lt i 2 h 2 h UH UH Results in Results in 2 hr 2 hr UH UH
3 hr Unit Hydrograph 3 hr Unit Hydrograph 3 hr. Unit Hydrograph 3 hr. Unit Hydrograph
from a 2 hr UH (D/D) from a 2 hr UH (D/D) from a 2 hr. UH (D/D ) from a 2 hr. UH (D/D )
3 HR UH 3 HR UH
D l t Eff t UH D l t Eff t UH Development Effects on UH Development Effects on UH
Natural Natural Partial Partial Fully Developed Fully Developed
Actual Brays Bayou UH Actual Brays Bayou UH Actual Brays Bayou UH Actual Brays Bayou UH
Faster response with Faster response with
Development Development
Ultimate Ultimate
pp
Higher peak flow with Higher peak flow with
Development Development
Present Present
Development Development
Need to provide down Need to provide down--
1959 1959
Present Present
Stream capacity Stream capacity
Synthetic UH Synthetic UH Synthetic UH Synthetic UH
Developed for basin Developed for basin
that were that were ungaged ungaged
Ultimate Ultimate
Based on data from Based on data from
similar similar gaged gaged basins basins
Present Present
similar similar gaged gaged basins basins
Most methods are very Most methods are very
1959 1959
Present Present
similar in nature similar in nature
Revolutionized ability to Revolutionized ability to
predict hydro response predict hydro response
Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods
Methods to characterize Methods to characterize
ungaged basins ungaged basins ungaged basins ungaged basins
Use data and relationships Use data and relationships pp
developed from gages developed from gages
Variety of approaches but Variety of approaches but Variety of approaches but Variety of approaches but
most based on most based on TT
pp
and and QQ
pp
England and U.S. led the England and U.S. led the
efforts to standardize UH efforts to standardize UH
Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods Synthetic UH Methods
Snyders Method (1938) Snyders Method (1938)
Clark Method (1945) Clark Method (1945)
Nash (1958) Nash (1958) Nash (1958) Nash (1958)
SCS (1964, 1975) SCS (1964, 1975) ( ) ( )
Espey Espey- -Winslow (1968) Winslow (1968)
Kinematic Wave (1970s) Kinematic Wave (1970s)
Snyders Method Snyders Method Snyder s Method Snyder s Method
5 to 7 points 5 to 7 points 5 to 7 points 5 to 7 points
SCS Methods SCS Methods SCS Methods SCS Methods
T i l UH T i l UH Triangular UH Triangular UH
Dimensionless UH Dimensionless UH
SCS Triangular UH Example SCS Triangular UH Example SCS Triangular UH Example SCS Triangular UH Example
1 inch of RF over 1 6 hr duration 1 inch of RF over 1 6 hr duration 1 inch of RF over 1.6 hr duration 1 inch of RF over 1.6 hr duration
22--hr Duration UH Example hr Duration UH Example pp
QQ
pp
at 400 cfs at 10 hr with 24 hr at 400 cfs at 10 hr with 24 hr TT
bb
f f f ll /h f f f ll /h Six Hours of Uniform Rainfall = 0.25 in/hr Six Hours of Uniform Rainfall = 0.25 in/hr
1.5 Inches Total Rain 1.5 Inches Total Rain
300 300
400 400
200 200
300 300
100 100
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 30 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 30
Time in Hours Time in Hours Time in Hours Time in Hours
SCS RAINFALL RUNOFF CURVES SCS RAINFALL RUNOFF CURVES
Unit Hydrograph Applications Unit Hydrograph Applications y g p pp y g p pp
d ill l d ill l Land Use will alter Land Use will alter
UH Peak and Timing UH Peak and Timing
Land Use 1 Land Use 1
dd
UH Peak and Timing UH Peak and Timing
Land Use 2 Land Use 2
Unit Hydrograph Changes Unit Hydrograph Changes
Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave
Overland Overland
Collector Collector
Channels Channels
Main Stream Main Stream
Mannings Eqn Mannings Eqn
Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave Kinematic Wave