Topic 3

1. Direct Runoff
2. Interflow
3. Base Flow

CC606 Hydrology

CATCHMENTS CHARACTERISTICS
RAINFALL CHARACTERISTICS

COMPONENT OF RUNOFF

AFFECTING

Topic 3
SURFACE RUNOFF

STREAM FLOW
MEASUREMENT

INFILTRATION

VELOCITY AREA METHOD

1. Mean-section
2. Mid-section

DILUTION GAUGING
METHOD

Phi-index-
Method

INTRODUCTION

If the amount of water falling on the ground is greater than the infiltration rate of the surface,
runoff or overland flow will occur. Runoff specifically refers to the water leaving an area of
drainage and flowing across the land surface to points of lower elevation.

Page 1/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

Direct Runoff

Water that flows over the ground surface or through the ground directly into streams,
rivers, and lakes.
Direct runoff originally from excess rain. Direct runoff magnitude and excess rain is the
same

Interflow
is the lateral movement of water that occurs in the upper part of the unsaturated zone, or
vadose zone, that directly enters a stream channel or other body of water without having
occurred first as surface runoff (as with throughflow).

Base Flow

Base flow (also called drought flow, groundwater recession flow, low flow, and sustained
or fair-weather runoff) is the portion of stream flow that comes from "the sum of deep
subsurface flow and delayed shallow subsurface flow". It should not be confused with
groundwater flow.
Stream discharge derived from groundwater sources as differentiated from surface runoff.

Factors Which Influenced Direct Runoff

Climatic Factor
Type of precipitation
Rainfall intensity
Rainfall Duration
Rainfall distribution
Storm Direction of motion
Other (loss & Evapotranspiration)
Catchment Area physical factor

CATCHMENT
A catchment area is a hydrological unit. Each drop of precipitation that falls into a catchment area
eventually ends up in the same river going to the sea if it doesnt evaporate. However, it can take a
very long time. Catchment areas are separated from each other by watersheds. A watershed is natural
division line along the highest points in an area. Catchments are divided into sub catchments, also
along the lines of elevation.

A catchment area.
Page 2/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

CATCHMENT AREA PHYSICAL FACTOR

Catchments Nature Which Influenced Runoff

Catchment Area
Major River Distance
Catchment Area Gradient
Catchment Orientation
Average Annual Excess Rainfall
Stream Frequency
Base Flow Index
Lake Area And Reservoir
Soil Humidity Rate

Equation Of Direct Runoff Depth With Effective Rain

Calculate direct runoff from stream flow & base flow data

Direct runoff = stream flow base flow

Page 3/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

Example 3.1;
Schedule below shows observation data from stream flow with base flow depth in catchment's area
250 km2. From that data , get direct runoff magnitude.
Time
(hour)

Stream flow, Q
(m3/s)

Base Flow,
(m3/s)

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75

1.37
1.25
1.12
5.00
12.00
15.60
17.15
14.40
8.80
6.80
5.50
4.10
2.75
2.00
1.20
0.65

0.15
0.32
0.62
1.25
1.28
1.35
1.42
1.65
1.82
1.88
2.05
2.55
1.91
1.53
1.15
0.28

Calculate Direct Runoff Volume From Direct Runoff Hydrograph

Volume Direct Runoff From hydrograph = Total DRO (m3/s) x Time (s)

Calculate stream Discharge using Velocity-area method

The procedure is to:
1. Choose a suitable site along the stream with a straight reach, uniform laminar flow conditions
and relatively constant depth and width. Sites with extreme turbulence, protruding obstructions,
eddies, stagnant zones or divided channels should be avoided.
2. Set up tagline consisting of a tape measure perpendicular across the stream to be used for
locating the velocity/depth measurements. Measurements are taken along 10-20 verticals across
the stream transect. Each vertical should partition stream flow equally, so that verticals should
be closer together where water is faster or deeper.

Page 4/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

3. At each site, use a current meter to measure stream velocity and a graduated pole to measure
stream depth. Typically, flow is measured at a depth considered to reflect average velocity
conditions (0.6 of the stream depth measured downward from the surface). Other approaches
such as two measurements taken and averaged for each vertical, at 0.2 and 0.8 of the water depth
are used (refer Table 1)
4.The stream flow can be calculated.

STATION ARE REQUIRED TO FILL UP CONDITION;

1. Reach of the river must be straight to ensure velocity that uniform from point in upstream to
observation station.
2. Having depth that is suitable. Depend upon velocity measuring tool that want to be used.
Flow meter need at least depth 30 cm
3. Free station from any interference (garbage, trunk, tree etc ) that could be distracting the river
flow velocity.
4. Cross section must be perpendicular with river flow direction.

Example 3;
Given V = 0.3N + 0.05 m/ s. Determine streamflow discharge using velocity-area method.

Page 5/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

Phi Index
Constant rate of loss yielding excess rainfall hyetograph with depth equal to depth of direct runoff
(kadar kehilangan yang akan menghasilkan hujan lebihan yang sama magnitudnya dengan larian
terus)

Example 1
Below, histogram shows rainfall hyetograph for the catchment. Calculate phi-index if direct
runoff equal 04 inch.

Intensity (in/hour)

Time (hour)

Page 6/8

Topic 3

CC606 Hydrology

Example 2
Refer to rainfall hyetograph below, Calculate loss using phi-index if direct runoff given 0.4
inch.

Intensity (in/hour)

Time (hour)

References;
http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/mckinney/ce374k/Overheads/12-RunoffProcesses.pdf
http://pages.suddenlink.net/drgriffinsmathcad/Example%201.7%20Phi%20Index.pdf
http://www.cedengineering.com/upload/Hydrology%201%20-%20Precipitation.pdf

Page 7/8