Double-Mass Analysis

Double-mass Analysis
- used to determine the consistency
of the hydorological data of a
particular section.
- represented by a double-mass
curve

The Double Mass Curve

Double Mass Curve Technique

- Lets take a group of 5 base stations
in the neighborhood. (Station X as
the station under consideration).
- Arrange the data of station X and the
average of the values of the group
base stations in reverse
chronological order (from recent to
old).

Double Mass Curve Technique

-Accumulate the precipitation of
station X (Px) and the average values
of the group base stations (Pave)
starting from the latest record.
-Plot the (Px) against (Pave).
(Px)

(Pav

Double Mass Curve Technique

Consistent

(Px)

(Pav
e)

(Px)

Inconsisten
t
(Pav

Double Mass Curve Technique

-A break in the slope of the resulting
plot of station X may be attributed to
the following causes:
Tampering of the instrument
Change in the recording conditions
Change in observation practices

Double Mass Curve Technique

-If inconsistency is observed, data at
station X should be corrected/adjusted
as:

Where:
Pcx is corrected precipitation
Mc is slope of line before breakpoint
Ma is slope of line after breakpoint
Px is the original precipitation at Station X

Example

Calculation of Slope

Correction Factor

Applicable to the data

before 1950.

Corrected Precipitation

Year

Px

Pcx

1949

284

204.4
8

1948

493

354.9
6

1947

320

230.4

1946

274

197.2
8

1945

322

231.8
4