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Engineering Hydrology

Analysis of Rainfall Data

Sreeja Pekkat
Associate Professor
Email:[email protected]

Department of Civil Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Guwahati, Assam, India

Analysis of Rainfall Data

 If optimal number of gauges are present, then the data need to be checked for its

 Completeness
 Rain gauge data is recorded at regular intervals such as 1h, 3h, 6h etc.

 If the rain gauge is inoperative for some time, the data will show a jump in the time values

 The missing data will be represented by a blank in the data series

 If it is missing for long duration, care should be taken about the values listed just after the missing value

 Consistency

 Inconsistency in data may be of

• An unrealistically high value

• A sudden change in the annual precipitation

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Estimating Missing Data

 The rain gauge data may have a short break in the record because of

 instrument failure or

 absence of the observer (manual recording gauge)

 If missing data is there, there is a need to adjust before processing it

 Making use of data from the neighbouring station

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Estimating Missing Data

 The following methods are used for estimating the missing data

 Simple arithmetic method

 Normal ratio method

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Estimating Missing Data

 Simple Arithmetic Method


 Let the missing precipitation Px at a station x,

• determined using simple arithmetic mean of the rainfall at nearby stations

n

 P i
Px  i 1

n
 n- number of surrounding stations used to estimate the missing value

 Pi - precipitation at the i th station during the period for which the missing value is to be determined

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Estimating Missing Data

 Normal ratio method

 Normal rainfall

 Average value of rainfall over a specified 30- year period at a particular area

 It is modified every decade

 Presently, the normal is for a period from 1991-2020

• Station with the missing data normally receives a different rainfall compared to other

stations

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Estimating Missing Data

 Normal Ratio Method


 Can be used for estimating Px , if the normal precipitations vary considerably

 the ratio of rainfall at any station to the normal rainfall at that station is equal to the

arithmetic mean of such ratios at the nearby stations


Px 1 n Pi
 
N x n i 1 N i

 Ni – normal precipitation at the ith station corresponding to the period for which the missing value is

to be estimated

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Example 1 : Calculation of missing rainfall

The normal annual rainfall at four stations, S1 to S4 in a catchment are 810, 680, 780and 910 mm,
respectively. In a particular year, S3 was inoperative. And the annual precipitations at S1, S2 and S4 were
recorded as 900, 730 and 800 mm respectively. Estimate the missing rainfall at station S3 in that year.

Data given:  Find out:

• Normal annual rainfall at four

 Missing rainfall at station S3 =?
stations, S1 to S4

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Example 1 : Calculation of missing rainfall

Solution:

 Missing rainfall using normal ratio method


Px 1 n Pi
 
N x n i 1 N i


PS 3 1 n Pi
 
N S 3 n i 1 N i

 N P P P  780  900 730 800 

PS 3  S 3  S 1  S 2  S 4      796.58mm
3  N1 N 2 N 4  3  810 680 910 

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Analysis of Rainfall Data

 Consistency Check

 Mass curve method

• To check the change in annual precipitation

 Double mass curve method

• To correct the inconsistency in annual precipitation

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Analysis of Rainfall Data

4000
 Mass curve method
3500

Cumulative Rainfall (mm)

 If the mass curve is very close to a straight line, 3000

then no change in the average precipitation at 2500

the station 2000

 If there is a distinct change in the slope of the 1500

1000
mass curve, indicates the sudden change in the
500
observed precipitation
0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970

Year

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Double Mass Curve

 Double mass curve method 3500

Cumulative rainfall of the station

 Select a group of neighbouring stations of 3000

2500
the inconsistent station 𝑋
2000
(mm)

 Arrange the data of 𝑋 station rainfall and

1500
the average of the neighboring stations in 1000
reverse chronological order 500
0
0 2000 4000
Cumulative Mean of all the stations (mm)

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Double Mass Curve

a
Slope of BC  3500 C
x

Cumulative rainfall of the station

3000 D
b
Slope of AB  Slope of BD  2500 a
x
2000 b

(mm)
Slope of AB 1500 B
Correction factor  x
Slope of BC 1000
500
b A
  b 0
CF    
x
0 2000 4000
a a
  Cumulative Mean of all the stations (mm)
x
Corrected rainfall=CF*Actual precipitation at that station

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Example 2 : Consitency Check

Annual Average Annual
Annual rainfall data of station A, and average annual rainfall data of Rainfall of Rainfall (AAR) of
Year
Station A 8 Station groups
8 nearby stations are listed in the table given. (mm) (mm)
1957 528 650
i. Check the consistency of data for station A 1958 620 626
1959 724 792
ii. Correct the data if required 1960 612 587
1961 686 594
1962 620 587
1963 749 846
1964 775 725
1965 620 626
1966 620 650
1967 680 602
1968 662 721
1969 775 942
1970 465 599
1971 729 892
1972 528 721
1973 650 754
1974 787 980
1975 470 581
1976 478 671
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Example 2 : Consitency Check

Annual Average Annual Cumulative Cumulative
Year Rainfall of Rainfall (AAR) Station A of 8 Station
14000

Cumulative annual rainfall of station A (mm)

Station A of 8 Stations rainfall AAR
12000
1976 478 671 478 671
1975 470 581 947 1251 10000
1974 787 980 1735 2232
1973 650 754 2385 2986
1972 528 721 2913 3707 8000
1971 729 892 3642 4599
1970 465 599 4107 5198 6000
1969 775 942 4882 6141
1968 662 721 5544 6862 4000
1967 680 602 6224 7464
1966 620 650 6844 8114
2000
1965 620 626 7464 8740
1964 775 725 8239 9465
1963 749 846 8988 10310 0
1962 620 587 9608 10897 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
1961 686 594 10294 11491 Cumulative annual rainfall of 8 station (mm)
1960 612 587 10906 12078
1959 724 792 11630 12871
1958 620 626 12250 13497
1957 528 650 12778 14147
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Example 2 : Consitency Check

Annual Average Annual Cumulative Cumulative
Year Rainfall of Rainfall (AAR) Station A of 8 Station
14000
C
Cumulative annual rainfall of station A (mm)

Station A of 8 Stations rainfall AAR

12000
1976 478 671 478 671
1975 470 581 947 1251 10000
1974 787 980 1735 2232
1973 650 754 2385 2986
1972 528 721 2913 3707 8000
1971 729 892 3642 4599
1970 465 599 4107 5198 6000 B
1969 775 942 4882 6141
1968 662 721 5544 6862 4000
1967 680 602 6224 7464
1966 620 650 6844 8114
2000
1965 620 626 7464 8740 A
1964 775 725 8239 9465
1963 749 846 8988 10310 0
1962 620 587 9608 10897 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
1961 686 594 10294 11491 Cumulative annual rainfall of 8 station (mm)
1960 612 587 10906 12078
1959 724 792 11630 12871
1958 620 626 12250 13497
1957 528 650 12778 14147
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Example 2 : Consitency Check

a 14000
Slope of BC   0.969 C

Cumulative annual rainfall of station A (mm)

x 12000 D
b
Slope of AB  Slope of BD   0.802 10000
x
a b
8000

0.969  0.802 6000 B

Difference in slope   0.172 x
0.969
4000

 Since the difference in slope is greater than 10 2000

A
%, correction needs to be applied 0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Cumulative annual rainfall of 8 station (mm)

Slope of AB 0.802
Correction factor  CF   0.827
Slope of BC 0.969
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Example 2 : Consitency Check

Average
Adjusted
Annual Annual Finalized
values of  Rainfall corresponding to 1957-1968 need to be corrected
Year Rainfall of Rainfall values of AAR
AAR of
Station A (AAR) of 8 of Station A
Station A
Station
1976 478 671 478 14000
1975 470 581 470
Cumulative annual rainfall of station A (mm)

1974 787 980 787 12000

1973 650 754 650
1972 528 721 528 10000
1971 729 892 729
1970 465 599 465 8000
1969 775 942 775
1968 662 721 547 547 6000
1967 680 602 562 562
1966 620 650 513 513 4000

1965 620 626 513 513

2000
1964 775 725 641 641
1963 749 846 620 620
0
1962 620 587 513 513 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
1961 686 594 567 567 Cumulative annual rainfall of 8 stations (mm)
1960 612 587 506 506
1959 724 792 599 599
1958 620 626 513 513
1957 528 650 437 437
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References

 Srivastava, R., and, Jain, A. (2017). Engineering Hydrology, McGraw Hill Education.

 Subramanya, K. (2013). Engineering Hydrology, 4th Edition, Tata McGraw Hill Education (India) Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi, India.

 Singh V., P. (1992). Elementary Hydrology, Prentice Hall.

 Patra, K. C. (2008). Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Narosa Publishing House.

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