HYDROGRAPH COMPONENTS

A hydrograph is a graph showing discharge (i.e., stream flow at the concentration

point)
versus time.. At the beginning, there is only base flow (i.e., the ground water
contribution to the stream) gradually
depleting in an exponential form. After the storm commences, the initial losses like
interception
and infiltration are met and then the surface flow begins. The hydrograph gradually
rises and reaches its peak value after a time tp (called lag time or basin lag)
measured from the
centroid of the hyetograph of net rain.

Rising limb- The rising limb of hydro graph, also known as concentration curve,
reflects a prolonged increase in discharge from a catchment area, typically in
response to a rainfall event
Recession (or falling) limb: The recession limb extends from the peak flow rate
onward. The end of stormflow (aka quickflow or direct runoff) and the return to
groundwater-derived flow (base flow) is often taken as the point of inflection of the
recession limb. The recession limb represents the withdrawal of water from the
storage built up in the basin during the earlier phases of the hydrograph.
Peak discharge: the highest point on the hydro graph when the rate of discharge
is greatest
Lag time: the time interval from the center of mass of rainfall excess to the peak of
the resulting hydrograph
Time to peak: time interval from the start of the resulting hydro graph
Discharge: the rate of flow (volume per unit time) passing a specific location in a
river or other channel
Some Factors influencing Storm Hydrographs
Area
Large basins receive more precipitation than small therefore have larger runoff
Larger size means longer lag time as water has a longer distance to travel to reach
the trunk river
Area Rock Type Soil Slope Land Use Precipitation / Temp
Slope

Channel flow can be faster down a steep slope therefore steeper rising limb and
shorter lag time
Area Rock Type Soil Slope Land Use Precipitation / Temp
Rock Type
Permeable rocks mean rapid infiltration and little overland flow therefore shallow
rising limb
Area Rock Type Soil Slope Land Use Precipitation / Temp
Soil
Infiltration is generally greater on thick soil
The more infiltration occurs the longer the lag time and shallower the rising limb
Area Rock Type Soil Slope Land Use Precipitation / Temp
Land Use
Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form impermeable surfaces, creating a steep
rising limb and shortening the time lag
In wooded areas, trees intercept/absorb the precipitation, creating a shallow rising
limb and lengthening the time lag
Area Rock Type Soil Slope Land Use Precipitation / Temp
Precipitation & Temperature
Short intense rainstorms can produce rapid overland flow and steep rising limb
If there have been extreme temperatures, the ground can be hard (either baked or
frozen) causing rapid surface run off
Snow on the ground can act as a store producing a long lag time and shallow rising
limb . Once a thaw sets in the rising limb will become steep
Area Rock Type Precipitation / Temp Soil Slope Land Use
ELEMENTS OF UNIT HYDROGRAPH
Unit stormThe strom of unit duration (i.e., duration of the unit hydrograph)
regardless
of its intensity is called unit storm.
Unit periodThe time duration of the unit storm (i.e., the duration of the unit
hydrograph) is called unit period.
Lag time (tp)The time from the centre of a unit storm to the peak discharge of
the

corresponding unit hydrograph is called lag time.

Recession time (Tr)The duration of the direct surface runoff after the end of the
excess
or net rainfall, is called recession time in hydrograph analysis.

Propositions of the Unit Hydrograph

The following are the basic propositions of the unit hydrograph:
(i) Same runoff duration. For all unit storms of different intensities, the period of
surface
runoff (i.e., time base, base width or base period) is approximately the same,
although
they produce different runoff volumes
(ii) Proportional ordinates. For unit storms of different intensities, the ordinates of
the
hydrograph at any given time, are in the same proportion as the rainfall intensities
(iii) Principle of superposition. If there is a continuous storm and/or isolated storms
of
uniform intensity net rain, they may be divided into unit storms and hydrographs of
runoff for
each storm obtained, and the ordinates added with the appropriate time lag to get
the combined
hydrograph.

STREAMFLOW
HYDROGRAPH