Objective: To plot a hydrograph and study the factors affecting the hydrograph.

Theory: A plot of the discharge in a stream plotted chronologically against time is called a
Hydrograph. Hydrograph is the graphical representation of the response of the watershed for a
given storm as input.

Fig.1. Components of a typical flood hydrograph.

Hydrograph generally has three components, i.e., Rising Limb, Peak (or Crest) Segment, and,
Falling (or Recession) Limb. The ascending portion of the hydrograph is the rising limb. Initially,
due to losses, discharge rises slowly and then rises rapidly at the end portion. Peak of the
hydrograph occurs when all portions of basins contribute at the outlet simultaneously at the
maximum rate. The withdrawal of water from the storage built up in the basin during the earlier
phase of the hydrograph contributes to the falling limb. The highest point on the graph where the
discharge is maximum denotes the peak discharge and the time taken between the peak rainfall
and peak discharge is called the lag time.
Factors affecting the hydrograph:
The factors that affect the shape of the hydrograph can be broadly grouped into (i) Physiographic
factors, and (ii) Climatic factors.
Physiographic factors:
(a) Shape of the catchment: Fan shaped/ semi-circular shaped catchments give sharp and
narrow hydrographs while elongated catchments give broad and low peaked hydrographs.
(b) Size of the catchment: Larger the catchment, large will be the lag time and flatter will be
the hydrograph.
(c) Slope of the catchment: Large stream slopes give rise to quicker depletion of storage and
hence result in steeper recession limb of hydrograph and smaller time to peak.
 (d) Landuse of the catchment: The peak discharge is higher for a catchment that has a lower
density of forests cover.
Climatic factors:
(a) Rainfall Intensity: For a given duration, the discharge peak and volume of the surface
runoff are essentially proportional to the intensity of rainfall.
(b) Rainfall Duration: The duration of storm for a given intensity also has a direct proportional
effect on the volume of runoff.
(c) Direction of the storm: If the storm moves towards the outlet of the catchment, there will
be a quicker concentration of flow at the basin outlet. This results in a peaked hydrograph.
Conversely, if the storm movement is up the catchment, the resulting hydrograph will be a
lower peak hydrograph.
Equipment specifications:
Frame:
The frame includes an adjustable leveling bolt so that the equipment can be leveled or fixed at a
desired inclination.
Sump tank:
A stainless steel sump tank of dimensions 800mm × 700mm × 450mm is mounted on the frame
below the sand tank.
Water feeds:
A sump tank and centrifugal pump mounted in the frame, beneath the sand tank, provides water
for the various demonstrations.
Sand tank:
A stainless steel tank with dimensions of 2000mm length × 1000mm width × 200mm height is
used to fill the desired river bed material.
Overhead spray nozzles:
Rainfall onto the catchment area is provided by 2×4 rows of spray nozzles above the tank, mounted
on a support frame.
River inlet tank:
A river inlet tank allows a stream of water to flow onto the surface of the sand, simulating the flow
from a river upstream.
Outlet colleting tank:
Water and sediment exiting the sand tank via the weir is deposited into the outlet collecting tank
that is designed to measure the flow of water and collect any sediment washed from the sand tank.
Methodology:
1. Clean the tanks, ensure that sump tank and sand tank are free from dust.
2. Level the apparatus properly with the help of the leveling bolts.
3. Before start the experiment choose the tilting angle of the sand tray.
4. Fill water in the sump tank up to 3/4th level.
5. Connect power supply to the system.
6. Also connect the computer to the system via USB cable.
7. Insert the license key provided, in the USB of PC.
8. Click on the hydrology icon from desktop.

9. Now initially fill the weir tank up to the weir cut level at bottom so that level in the
software screen will be showing zero level.
10. Press the tare load button make sure the level (H) should be zero mm before start
experiment.

11. Then click on cyclogram button.

12. Then feed time input for all 4 solenoid valves to open or close the nozzles.
13. Then press save and apply button and then click back button.
14. Be sure that the bypass valve should be fully opened before starting the pump.
15. Then click the Pump ON button, now pump will start.

16. After that click start button and close the bypass valve according to adjusting flow rate
from rotameters.
17. Then put the flow rate values in F1 and F2 according to flow rate adjusted in rotameters.

18. Then wait for a time which we put in a cyclogram till the rain stops.
19. Then still wait so that the level (H) decreased to 5mm from its maximum head or wait
till the stop button color changes from green to red.
20. Now our experiment will be over and all values will be saved in the graph.
21. Then click on the graph button.

22. Graph report page will be generated. Now click on open file button.

23. Now D-drive will be opened then select the folder of date of experiment. (Note: if you
not select any file from this folder the error window may be occur with two option
“continue” or “cancel”. Then you have to press “continue”). Then you can follow
previous steps to open the file.
24. Now graph report will generate on screen. Then press save report button.

25. Then go-back to main button.

26. Then you can exit from the experiment by clicking on exit button.

27. Now for print of report you go to D- drive and select hydrology _Data folder.
28. Select test result folder. Then select report folder from it.

29. Then choose the date of experiment folder and then click the report which is generated
as per time of experiment.
30. Then take a print of report.
Experimental combinations:
Case 1: Varying intensity and slope constant
Intensity 1 ____________________ lit/sec.
Intensity 2 ____________________ lit/sec.
Slope __________________ (°) degree.
River flow rate ____________________ lit/sec.
Observation Table 1:
Time (s) Rainfall Intensity I Discharge, Qi1 Rainfall Intensity II Discharge, Qi2
(mm/s) (lit/s) (mm/s) (lit/s)

Case 2: Varying Slope and intensity constant

Slope 1 __________________ (°) degree.
Slope 2 __________________ (°) degree.
Intensity ____________________ lit/sec.
River flow rate ____________________ lit/sec.
Observation Table 2:
Time (s) Rain fall Intensity Discharge, Qs1 (lit/s) Discharge, Qs2 (lit/s)
(mm/s)
Calculation:
(i) Draw hydrograph for case 1 and case 2 separately
(ii) Overlap the hydrographs for Case 1 and Case 2 and identify the rising limb, falling limb and
calculate the time to peak (Tp).
Results:
1. Draw Graph
2. Identify rising limb and falling limb and peak of hydro graph in the graph

Time to peak (Tp)

Rainfall Intensity _________° Slope _________° Slope
__________ lit/s
__________ lit/s

Peak Discharge (Qp)

Rainfall Intensity _________° Slope _________° Slope
__________ lit/s
__________ lit/s

Discuss Briefly:
1. How time to peak (Tp) varies with slope and intensity;
2. Discuss effect on hydrograph for a basin with steep slope and high rainfall intensity.