Hydrology

Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
RAINFALL - RUNOFF ANALYSIS
Types of runoff
Surface runoff process
Factors affecting runoff
Determination of runoff
Measurement
Assessment
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Surface runoff
(rill or sheet) Stream flow
(discharge)
Types of Runoff
Surface runoff: runoff as sheet or rill flow at the surface before it
reaches a stream
Stream flow (discharge): runoff in seasonal streams or rivers
Most of the water harvesting methods are related to the harvest of
surface runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Rainfall Intensity (RI)
Infiltration capacity of soil(ICS)
Surface runoff
RI > ICS Production of
surface runoff
The Surface Runoff Process
Rainfall Intensity (RI)
Infiltration capacity of soil(ICS)
RI < ICS No surface runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
The Surface Runoff Process
Infiltration Capacity depends on:
Soil type
Organic matter/ mulch layer
Antecedent soil moisture
Soil depth
Compacted soil layers
Type of soil tillage
Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991
Rainfall-Infiltration-Runoff relationship
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
The Surface Runoff Process
Relation between
source area and
rainfall depth for a
sample catchment;
Source: Humborg 1989
Runoff is produced on only
parts of a catchment
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Antecedent soil
moisture
RUNOFF
Soil type
Vegetation
Rainfall
characteristics
Topography
Factors Affecting Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Soil type
V
Solid
Air
Water
V
v
Porosity = V
v
x 100
V
High porosity High infiltration Low runoff
(macropores)
Infiltration capacity curves for different
soils; Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991
Factors Affecting Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Intensity of Rainfall
Runoff
Crusting, Capping or Sealing
Bigger Raindrops
High runoff
Less infiltration
Crusting, capping or sealing
Filling of pores with fine particles
Breakdown of soil aggregates
High kinetic energy
Bigger raindrops
High intensity of rainfall
Factors Affecting Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Vegetation: Retards surface flow
Reduces crusting
Induces interception storage
Increases porosity due to the root system
Densely covered Bare land
High Runoff
Low Runoff
Factors affecting surface runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Topography: Slope
High runoff
Low runoff
Factors affecting surface runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Runoff efficiency
increases with
decreasing size of
catchment
Runoff efficiency
is volume of runoff
per unit of area
Area in ha
Runoff efficiency as a function of catchment size: from a study in Israel; Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991
Factors affecting runoff : Catchment size

R
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o
f
f

e
f
f
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i
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%

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
10
-2
10
-1
10 10
2
10
3
Catchment size in ha
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Runoff Plots
Steps:
Step 1: Select a plot from which
runoff is to be collected under
controlled conditions.
similar physical characteristics
with the WH scheme planned
minimum size recommended is
3-4 m in width & 10-12 m in length
Measurement
Determination of Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
>

1
5

c
m

Sheet metal, wooden
plank or earth bund
Step 2: Around the plots metal sheets or
wooden planks must be driven into the
soil with at least 15 cm of height above
the ground. Earth bunds of the same
height may be constructed.
Determination of Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Step 3: Install a rain gauge
near the plot, a gutter at the
lower end of the plot, and a
measuring tank at the lower
end of the gutter.
Step 4: Measure the volume
of water collected in the rain
gauge and in the runoff tank
after every storm (or every day
at a specific time).
Standard layout of a runoff plot;
Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991
Determination of Surface Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff from Large Catchments
The SCS - method ( U.S. Soil Conservation Service)
The SCS - method: Enables determination of runoff coefficient
without direct runoff measurement
Makes use of rainfall depth (P) and curve
number or hydrologic soil- cover complex
number (CN)
Curve number
(CN) is a function of:
Mainly useful for large catchments.
Hydrologic soil group
Land use
Hydrologic condition
Antecedent moisture conditions
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis Determination of Runoff
The SCS - method : Steps
Antecedent soil moisture categories for SCS antecedent preciptation index, Source: DVWK 1984
Step 1: Determine the soil moisture class having the rainfall
height during the previous 5 days in vegetation period and other
time. Refer to the following table.
Soil moisture class
Rainfall depth of the previous 5 days in mm
Vegetation period Remaining time
I < 30 < 15
II 30 - 50 15 - 30
III > 50 > 30
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
The SCS - method : Steps
Step 2: Choose the soil group from the following table
Group A:
(low runoff potential): Soils having high infiltration rates
even when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of
deep, well to excessively drained sand or gravels. These
soils have a high rate of water transmission.
Group B: Soils having moderate infiltration rates when thoroughly
wetted and consisting chiefly of soils with a layer that
impedes downward movement of water, or soils with
moderately fine to fine textures. These soils have a
moderate rate of water transmission.
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
The SCS - method : Steps
Determination of Runoff
SCS - soil grouping; Source: DVWK 1984
Group C: Soils having slow infiltration rates when thoroughly
wetted and consisting chiefly of soils with a layer that
impedes downward movement of water, or soils with
moderately fine to fine textures. These soils have a low
rate of water transmission.
Group D: (high runoff potential): Soils having very slow infiltration
rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of
clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a
permanent high water table, soils with a clay pan or clay
layer at or near the surface, and shallow soils over
nearly impervious material. These soils have a very low
rate of water transmission.
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
The SCS - method : Steps
Step 3: From the following table look for the curve number
(CN) corresponding to the appropriate land use and soil group.

CN values for
various conditions
of land use and
soil group for soil
moisture class II;
Source: DVWK
1984
Land use
CN for soil group
A B C D
Waste land
(without appreciable vegetative growth)
77 86 94 94
Tuber crops 70 80 90 90
Grain, fodder plants 64 76 88 88
Pasture (normal) 49 69 84 84
Pasture (sparse) 68 79 89 89
Forest (patchy) 45 66 83 83
Forest (medium) 36 60 79 79
Impermeable areas
(sealed surfaces in urban areas, roads etc.)
100 100 100 100
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
The SCS - method : Steps
Step 4: For moisture class other than class II, correct the obtained CN
using the following graph.
CN values for soil
moisture class I and III
as a function of CN
values for soil moisture
class II; Source: DVWK
1984
Old curve number (Cn for soil class II)
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Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
The SCS - method : Steps
Surface runoff as a function of rainfall and curve number;
Source: DVWK 1984
Rainfall (P) in mm
C
u
r
v
e

n
u
m
b
e
r

(
C
N
)

240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
35
30
25
20
P in mm
P
eff
in mm
S
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f

(
R
)


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m

Step 5: Having the curve number (CN) and the rainfall depth (P), look the
corresponding surface runoff amount from the following graph or compute the surface
runoff using the following formula and then calculate the runoff coefficient (K)
K
R
P
=
K: runoff coefficient
R: Surface runoff in mm
P: Rainfall in mm
CN: Curve number
4 . 25
8
800
4 . 25
2
200
4 . 25
2

+
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
CN
p
CN
p
R
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
Assessment
Use of runoff coefficient
Runoff = Runoff Coefficient X Rainfall
Graphical correlation between rainfall & runoff
Analytical correlation between rainfall & runoff
Runoff = a + k X Rainfall
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Runoff coefficient K
K = Yearly (seasonal) Total Runoff
Yearly(seasonal) Total Rainfall
Yearly or Seasonal Runoff Coefficient
Determination of Runoff
Runoff coefficient need to be based on actual,
simultaneous measurements of both rainfall & runoff
Avoid use of runoff coefficients derived for watersheds
other than the project area
At least 2 years of rainfall & runoff measurements are
required to arrive at a representative figure.
Ranges usually between 0.1 and 0.5
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis Determination of Runoff
Graphical Correlation between Rainfall & Runoff
1
k
Rainfall (mm)
R
u
n
o
f
f

(
m
m
)

a
Runoff = a + k x Rainfall
a : Y-intercept
k : Slope of the fitted line
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Determination of Runoff
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ) (
2
2

=
P P N
R P R P N k
a R K P
N
=

) ( ) ( ) (
) ( | { ) ( | ) ( | ) ( | }
2
2
2
2
*



=
R R N P P N
R P P R N r
R a k P = +
R = Runoff (mm)
P = Rainfall (mm)
N = number of sets of P and R
r = Coefficient of correlation
( 0 < r < 1)
a & K = Constants
Analytical Correlation between Rainfall & Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis Determination of Runoff
k = (18 x 3083.3 - 348 x 104.3)/(18 x 9534 - 348
2
) = 0.38
a = (104.3 - 0.38 x 348)/18 = -1.55
R = 0.38 x P - 1.55
For P = 35mm, R= 0.38 x 35 - 1.55 = 11.75mm
Analytical Method
Months Rainfall (P) Runoff (R) P x R P^2 R^2
1 5.00 0.50 2.50 25.00 0.25
2 35.00 10.00 350.00 1225.00 100.00
3 40.00 13.80 552.00 1600.00 190.44
4 30.00 8.20 246.00 900.00 67.24
5 15.00 3.10 46.50 225.00 9.61
6 10.00 3.20 32.00 100.00 10.24
7 5.00 0.10 0.50 25.00 0.01
8 31.00 12.00 372.00 961.00 144.00
9 36.00 16.00 576.00 1296.00 256.00
10 30.00 8.00 240.00 900.00 64.00
11 10.00 2.30 23.00 100.00 5.29
12 8.00 1.60 12.80 64.00 2.56
13 2.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00
14 22.00 6.50 143.00 484.00 42.25
15 30.00 9.40 282.00 900.00 88.36
16 25.00 7.60 190.00 625.00 57.76
17 8.00 1.50 12.00 64.00 2.25
18 6.00 0.50 3.00 36.00 0.25
Total 348.00 104.30 3083.30 9534.00 1040.51
All figures are in mm
Example:
Develop correlation
between rainfall and
runoff graphically and
analytically for the
monthly data given in
the table and compute
the runoff corresponding
to 35mm of rainfall
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Rainfall - Runoff Relation
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 10 20 30 40 50
Rainfall in mm
R
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o
f
f

i
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m
m

Runoff
Linear
k = slope = 0,38
a = y-intercept = -1.56
The runoff corresponding to 35 mm of rainfall is 11.75 mm
Graphical Method
Determination of Runoff
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Quantity of Water to be Harvested
1 mm of runoff results in 1 liter of water harvest per square meter
( 1 l/m
2
)
If catchment area is 100m
2
, and
The runoff with 67% of probability is 11.75 mm
(as in the previous example),
Expected quantity of water to be harvested (in liter)
= Runoff (mm) x catchment area (m
2
)
= 11.75mm x 100m
2

= 1175 liters
The expected quantiy of water harvested from this
catchment area is 1175 liters.
Hydrology
Unit 4 + 5
Rainfall
Runoff A nalysis
Summary
Surface runoff is produced when the rainfall intensity exceeds the infiltration
capacity
Rainfall characteristics, antecedent soil moisture, vegetation and topography
affect runoff volume
Runoff plots measure runoff from small catchments and yield good results for
microcatchment systems.
Runoff is computed from rainfall either employing suitable runoff coefficient or
through graphical or analytical correlation between rainfall and runoff.
For unmonitored catchments the SCS - method can be employed to compute the
runoff
Runoff coefficient usually ranges between 0.1 and 0.5.