Rainfall - runoff:

Unit Hydrograph

Manuel Gómez Valentín

E.T.S. Ing. Caminos, Canales y
Puertos de Barcelona
 Options in many commercial
codes, HMS and others
 HMS Menu
 Transform
method,
User
specified,
SCS, etc
Rainfall - runoff

 Different options
 Unit hydrograph (most popular)
 Lumped (global) model
 Hydrological response at the basin
outlet from an effective rainfall, 1 mm,
duration D minutes, uniformly
distributed all over the basin
 UH Hipothesis

 Linear response
 Time invariant (rain event)

Q 1 mm effective rainfall
Effective rainfall

Unit hydrograph, Unit hydrograph,

duration d minutes Duration t

d
Tiempo
Tb t
Problems in the application

 Lack of real data to obtain it

 We need to use synthetic UH

 The Basic Process Necessary for a
single basin
Unit
Hydrographs

Excess Precip. Excess Precip.

Model

Basin “Routing” Runoff

Excess Precip. UHG Methods Hydrograph

Stream and/or Downstream

Runoff Reservoir Hydrograph
Hydrograph “Routing”
Proposal of the HU

 Sherman - 1932
 Horton - 1933
 Wisler & Brater - 1949 - “the hydrograph of
surface runoff resulting from a relatively short,
intense rain, called a unit storm”
 Standardly used in most professional codes for
rural basins
Unit Hydrograph “Lingo”
 Duration
 Lag Time
 Time of Concentration
 Rising Limb
 Recession Limb (falling
limb)
 Peak Flow
 Time to Peak (rise time)
 Recession Curve
 Separation
 Base flow
 Graphical Representation
 Duration
 Lag Time Duration of
excess precip.
 Time of
Concentration
 Rising Limb
 Recession Limb Lag time
(falling limb)
Time of
 Peak Flow
concentration
 Time to Peak (rise
time)
Base flow
 Recession Curve
 Separation
 Base flow
How to get the UH

 Field data measurements I(t), Q(t)

 Approach with synthetic unit
hydrographs
 SCS (NRCS)
 Time - area curve (Clark, 1945)
 Unit Hydrograph

 Hydrological response at the basin outlet from an

effective rainfall, 1 mm, duration D minutes,
uniformly distributed all over the basin

 Puntos capitales:
 1-inch 1-mm of effective rainfall

 Uniformly distributed in space and time (duration

D minutes)
 Different hydrographs for different durations
 How to use the UH

 Graphical process
 Hyetograph defined
with time steps “d”
 Use the unit
hydrograph for
duration “d”
 Addition of different
sub-hydrographs
 How to use the UH

 Matrix approach I1 0 0 0 Q1

 Prepare matrix P I 2 I1 0 0 u1 Q2
 
and U I 3 I 2 I1 0 u2 Q3
 
 Direct operation 0 I 3 I 2 I1 u3 Q4
 
0 0 I3 I 2 u4 Q5
Q6
0 0 0 I3  
 UH obtention

 We need field measurements

 Rainfall
 Runoff hydrograph at the basin outlet

 We measure the total rainfall (effective

rainfall is “estimated”) SOURCE OF
UNCERTAINTY
 Other problems (errors, spatial distrib.)
 UH obtention

Rules of Thumb :
… the storm should be fairly uniform in nature and the excess
precipitation should be equally as uniform throughout the basin.
This may require the initial conditions throughout the basin to
be spatially similar.
… Second, the storm should be relatively constant in time,
meaning that there should be no breaks or periods of no
precipitation.
… Finally, the storm should produce at least an inch (1 mm)
of excess precipitation (the area under the hydrograph after
correcting for baseflow).
Deriving a UHG from a
Storm
25000 0.8

0.7

20000
0.6

Precipitation (inches)
0.5
15000
Flow (cfs)

0.4

10000
0.3

0.2
5000

0.1

0 0

4
2
0
8
0
8
16
24
32
40
48
56

64
72
80
88
96
10
11
12
12
Time (hrs.)
Derived Unit Hydrograph
700.0000

600.0000 Total
Hydrograph

500.0000

Surface
400.0000 Response

300.0000

Baseflow
200.0000

100.0000

0.0000
0.0000 0.5000 1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000 3.5000 4.0000
 UH obtention

 Measured Q(t), 700.0000

surface and 600.0000

groundwater 500.0000
Surface
Response

response 400.0000

300.0000
Baseflow
 We want just
200.0000

the surface
100.0000

response
0.0000
0. 0
00

0. 0
00

0. 0
00

1. 0

1. 0
00

1. 0
00

1. 0
00

2. 0
00

2. 0

2. 0
00

3. 0
00

3. 0
00

3. 0
00
0

0
00

16

32

48

64

80

96

12

28

44

60

76

92

08

24

40

56

72

88

04

20

36

52

68
0.

0.

0.

0.

1.

1.

2.

2.

2.

3.

3.
 Separation of Baseflow

... generally accepted that the inflection point on the recession

limb of a hydrograph is the result of a change in the controlling
physical processes of the excess precipitation flowing to the basin
outlet.
In this example, baseflow is considered to be a straight line
connecting that point at which the hydrograph begins to rise
rapidly and the inflection point on the recession side of the
hydrograph.
the inflection point may be found by plotting the hydrograph in
semi-log fashion with flow being plotted on the log scale and
noting the time at which the recession side fits a straight line.
 Semi-log Plot
100000

 Groundwater
Recession side of hydrograph
response, 10000 becomes linear at approximately hour
64.

exponential 1000

Flow (cfs)
 Use log paper
100
to determine the
separation point 10

4
9
4
9
4
9
4
29
34
39
44
49
54
59
64
69
74
79
84
89
94
99
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
Time (hrs.)
Hydrograph & Baseflow
25000

20000

15000
Flow (cfs)

10000

5000

0
0
7

14
21

28
35
42
49
56
63
70
77

84
91

98
105

112
119
126

133
Time (hrs.)
Separate Baseflow
25000

20000

15000
Flow (cfs)

10000

5000

5
2
9
6

3
0
7
14

21
28
35
42

49
56
63
70

77
84
91
98
10
11
11
12

13
Time (hrs.)
 Separation of Baseflow

 If no significant contribution from

groundwaters, use a horizontal straight line
 Constant base flow
 UH from field data

 Matrix approach

I1 0 0 0  Q1 
I2 I1 0 0 u1 Q 2
 
I3 I 2 I1 0 u2  Q3
 
0 I 3 I 2 I1 u3 Q4
 
0 0 I3 I2 u4 Q5 
Q6 
0 0 0 I3  

PU  Q
 UH from field data
 Considering a matrix algebra, we can obtain
the vector U, from vectos Q and matrix P

PU  Q

PU  Q

P T PU  P T Q


U P P T

1 T
P Q
 UH of D’ from D minutes UH

 Sometimes you have UH for duration D, but

you need the D’ UH duration
 Use of S-curve
 Just for real UH, not synthetic ones
 S hydrograph
60000.00

 Consider a 50000.00

very long, 40000.00

Addition of
constant rain
Flow (cfs)
30000.00 UH, duration D
event 20000.00

 Intensity 1/D 10000.00

mm/h 0.00
0
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60
66
72
78
84
90
96
102
108
114
120
 Hydrological Time (hrs.)

response?
S curve
 UH of D’ from D minutes UH

 From D minutes UH, establish S curve

 Move D’ minutes the S-curve
 Sustract both hydrographs
 Convert to unit rainfall, the obtained
hydrograph (1 mm rainfall)
 Problems of the UH obtention
 Rain event selection
 Errors in rainfall or runoff measurements
 Non-uniform rain events
 Use of more than 1 event to obtain UH
 Make an average of the UH
 Optimization methods to obtain the UH from
several rain event at the same time
 Average Several UHG’s

 It is suggested that several unit hydrographs be derived and

averaged.
 The unit hydrographs must be of the same duration in order to be
properly averaged.
 It is often not sufficient to simply average the ordinates of the unit
hydrographs in order to obtain the final unit hydrograph. A numerical
average of several unit hydrographs which are different “shapes” may
result in an “unrepresentative” unit hydrograph.
 It is often recommended to plot the unit hydrographs that are to be
averaged. Then an average or representative unit hydrograph should
be sketched or fitted to the plotted unit hydrographs.
 Finally, the average unit hydrograph must have a volume of 1 mm of
runoff for the basin.
Synthetic UHG’s

 SCS
 Clark (Time-area method)
 SCS SUH

 SCS proposal
 Simple SCS Dimensionless UHG Features
1

 Basin of regular Flow ratios

Cum. Mass
0.8

shapes
0.6

 Single peak
Q/Qpeak
0.4

0.2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
T/Tpeak
Triangular SHU
D SCS Dimensionless UHG & Triangular Representation
1.2 Excess
Precipitation

Tlag

0.8

Flow ratios
Cum. Mass
Q/Qpeak

Triangular
0.6

Point of
Inflection
Tc
0.4

0.2

0
0.0 Tp 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Tb
T/Tpeak
Dimensionless Ratios
Time Ratios Discharge Ratios Mass Curve Ratios
(t/tp) (q/qp) (Qa/Q)
0 .000 .000
.1 .030 .001
.2 .100 .006
.3 .190 .012
.4 .310 .035
.5 .470 .065
.6 .660 .107
.7 .820 .163
.8 .930 .228
.9 .990 .300
1.0 1.000 .375
1.1 .990 .450
1.2 .930 .522
1.3 .860 .589
1.4 .780 .650
1.5 .680 .700
1.6 .560 .751
1.7 .460 .790
1.8 .390 .822
1.9 .330 .849
2.0 .280 .871
2.2 .207 .908
2.4 .147 .934
2.6 .107 .953
2.8 .077 .967
3.0 .055 .977
3.2 .040 .984
3.4 .029 .989
3.6 .021 .993
3.8 .015 .995
4.0 .011 .997
4.5 .005 .999
5.0 .000 1.000
 Triangular Representation D SCS Dimensionless UHG & Triangular Representation
1.2 Excess
Precipitation

Tb  2.67 x Tp 1
Tlag

Tr  Tb - Tp  1.67 x Tp 0.8

Flow ratios
Cum. Mass

Q/Qpeak
Triangular

qpT p qpT r qp 0.6

Point of

Q= + = (T p +T r ) Tc
Inflection

2 2 2 0.4

2Q 0.2

qp=
T p +T r 0
0.0 Tp 1.0
Tb
2.0 3.0

T/Tpeak
4.0 5.0

654.33 x 2 x A x Q
qp= The 645.33 is the conversion used for delivering 1-
T p +T r inch of runoff (the area under the unit hydrograph)
from 1-square mile in 1-hour (3600 seconds).
484 A Q
qp=
Tp
 Duration & Timing?
Again from the triangle

D
T p= + L
2 L = Lag time
L  0.6 * Tc

Tc  D  1.7 T p

D
+ 0.6 T c = T p
2
For estimation purposes should be around : D  0.133 Tc

To be used with SCS concept and expressions

Time of Concentration

 Regression Eqs.
 Segmental Approach
 Time of Concentration

 In Spain, we use the Témez’s formula

 Different concept for Tc than the SCS
 Modify expressions for SHU, SCS
 A Regression Equation
L0.8 (S  1) 0.7
Tlag 
1900(% Slope) 0.5

where : Tlag = lag time in hours

L = Length of the longest drainage path in feet
S = (1000/CN) - 10 (CN=curve number)
%Slope = The average watershed slope in %

L
Tc  0.3( 0.25
) 0.76

J
 Tc, is it always the same?

L0.8 (S  1) 0.7 L
Tlag  Tc  0.3( 0.25
) 0.76

1900(% Slope) 0.5 J

•Tc for SCS and Tc for other expressions are not the same
•T’c for SCS, time to inflexion point of the UH
•Tc as time needed to exit the basin from the farthest point

Tlag  0.6 T  0.35 Tc c

'
 Clark, synthetic UH

 Propossed by Clark
 Considering the basin shape, not just the
total area
 Consider delays attributed to sub-surface
runoff
 Need to be applied in non regular shape
basins
Clark - Time-Area
 Time-Area
 Synthetic UH, equal form as the time-area curve
 It can show more than one peak

100%

Time
Q % Area of conc.

Time Time
 Additional delay
 Presence of sub-surface runoff
 Runoff shows an additional delay, that can
not be explained just for surface runoff
 Reservoir model for the
delay
 Conceptual model
 Assume that additional delay is equal to the
produced by a water reservoir
I (UH Clark) dS
I Q 
dt

K Q
 Storage description

 General approach
S  K1 Q  K 2 Q   K n Q
2 n

 Simplified to a linear reservoir model

SKQ
 K has dimensions of time

K  T 
 Mathematical description

 If K is contant in time
dQ
I  QK
dt

 We can solve the diff. Equation as:

 t
I ( )
t
Q (t )  
0
K
e K
d
 Practical application

 A finite difference scheme can be used

I1  I 2 Q1  Q 2 Q 2  Q1
  K
2 2 t
 From an initial condition Q1, and from the
values of the previous hydrograph we can
proceed as:

2  t  Q1 Q1 
Q2   I1  2  K t 
2K  t
 K values

 We need to estimate the K value

 Best approach, field data (I , Q)
 From correlations obtained in other
 Proposed K = 0.75 Tc
 Basin application
 Basin 190 Km2 , Tc 8 hours
 K= 5.5 hours
 Time step, 1 or 2 hours
8

7
7
6
6
6
2
5 0
4 3
1

5
 Basin geometry
Isocrones Area Accum. Area Accum
Area # (km2) (km2) Time (hrs)
1 0-1 5 5 1.0
2 1-2 9 14 2.0
3 2-3 23 37 3.0
4 3-4 19 58 4.0
5 4-5 27 85 5.0
6 5-6 26 111 6.0
7 6-7 39 150 7.0
8
8 7-8 40 190 8.0
7
TOTAL 190 190 8.0
7
7
6
6
6
2
5 0
4 3
1

5
 Time area curve
40

35

Incremental Area (sqaure miles)

30
Area (Km2)

25

20

15

8 10

7 5
7
7 0
6
6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
6 Time Increment (hrs)
2
5 0
4 3
1

5
 Time accumulated area
9

7
Cumulative Area (sqaure miles)
6

8 Watershed 1
Boundary

7
Isochrone 0
7 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
7
6
6 Time (hrs)
6
2
5 0
4 3
1

5
 No time / area curve ?

TAi  1.414Ti 1.5 for (0  Ti  0.5)

1  TAi  1.414(1  Ti )1.5 for (0.5  Ti  1.0)

U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers (HEC 1990)

 What about if the synthetic curve does not match

the real one?
 SUH, comments

 SUH is an approach to the real UH, could be

good or not
 SHU Clark, problems to estimate K
 SHU SCS, one peak value, can only be
applied to basins with regular shape
 You must make your choice according the
basin characteristics