Module 3

6 Lectures

Hydrologic Analysis
Prof. Subhankar Karmakar
IIT Bombay

Objective of this module is to introduce the watershed

concepts, rainfall-runoff, hydrograph analysis and unit
hydrograph theory.

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Topics to be covered
Watershed concepts

Characteristics of watershed

Watershed management

Rainfall-runoff
Rational Method
Hydrograph analysis
Hydrograph relations
Recession and Base flow separation
Net storm rainfall and the hydrograph
Time- Area method
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Topics to be covered
(contd..)
Unit hydrograph theory
Derivation of UH : Gauged watershed
S-curve method
Discrete convolution equation

Synthetic unit hydrograph

Snyders method
SCS method

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Module 3

Lecture 1: Watershed and rainfall-runoff

relationship

Watershed concepts
The watershed is the basic unit used in
most hydrologic calculations relating to
water

balance

or

computation

of

rainfall-runoff
The

watershed

boundary

(Divide)

defines a contiguous area, such that

the net rainfall or runoff over that area
Watershed boundary

Watershed diagram

will contribute to the outlet

The

rainfall that

falls outside the

watershed boundary will not contribute

to runoff at the outlet
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Watershed concepts

Contd

Watersheds are characterized in

general, by one main channel and
by tributaries that drain into main
channel at one or more confluence
points

River

stream

A divide or drainage divide is the

line drawn through the highest
elevated points within a watershed
Divide

Divide forms the limits of a single

watershed and the boundary
between two or more watersheds

Sub-catchment or Sub-basin

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Watershed concepts

Contd

A water divide is categorized into:1. Surface water divide highest elevation line between basins
(watersheds) that defines the perimeter and sheds water into adjacent
basins, and,
2. Subsurface water divide which refers to faults, folds, tilted geologic
strata (rock layers), etc., that cause sub-surface flow to move in one
direction or the other.

Surface water divide

Subsurface
water divide

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Characteristics of watershed
Size:

It

helps

in

computing

parameters

like

rainfall

received, retained, amount of runoff etc.

Shape: Based on the morphological parameters such as geological

structure eg. peer or elongated

Slope: Reflects the rate of change of elevation with distance along the
main channel and controls the rainfall distribution and movement

Drainage: Determines the flow characteristics and the erosion behavior

Soil type: Determines the infiltration rates that can occur for the area

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Characteristics of watershed

Contd

Land use and land cover: It can affect the overland flow of the
rainwater with the improve in urbanization and increased pavements.

Main channel and tributary characteristics: It can effect the stream

flow response in various ways such as slope, cross-sectional
area, Mannings roughness coefficient, presence of obstructions and
channel condition

Physiography: Lands altitude and physical disposition

Socio-economics: Depends on the standard of living of the people and

it is important in managing water
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Watershed Management
A watershed management approach is one that considers the watershed as a
whole, rather than separate parts of the watershed in isolation
Managing the water and other natural resources is an effective and efficient
way to sustain the local economy and environmental health
Watershed management helps reduce flood damage, decrease the loss of
green space, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality
Watershed planning brings together the people within the watershed,
regardless of political boundaries, to address a wide array of resource
management issues

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Principles for Watershed Management

Use an ecological approach that would recover and maintain the biological
diversity, ecological Function, and defining characteristics of natural
ecosystems
Recognize that humans are part of ecosystems-they shape and are shaped
by the natural systems: the sustainability of ecological and societal systems
are mutually dependent
Adopt a management approach that recognizes ecosystems and institutions
are characteristically heterogeneous in time and space
Integrate sustained economic and community activity into the management
of ecosystems

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Principles for Watershed Management

Contd

Provide for ecosystem governance at appropriate ecological and institutional

scales
Use adaptive management as the mechanism for achieving both desired
outcomes and new understandings regarding ecosystem conditions
Integrate the best science available into the decision-making process, while
continuing scientific research to reduce uncertainties
Implement ecosystem management principles through
government and non-government plans and activities

coordinated

Develop a shared vision of desired human and environmental conditions

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