CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

Fall term
__________________________________________________________________________________________

McGill University
Department of Civil engineering and Applied Mechanics
CIVE-323 HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
Instructor: Dr. Tan-Danh Nguyen
__________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT 3
Given date: October 4, 2010 Due date: October 12, 2010
Problem 3.1.
Four raingages located within a rectangular area with four corners at (0,0), (0,13), (14,13), and
(14,0) have the following coordinates and recorded rainfalls:
Raingage

Coordinate

Rainfall (in.)

Sub-area around gage (mi2)

(2,9)

0.59

39.0

(7,11)

0.79

31.2

(12,10)

0.94

42.3

(6,2)

1.69

69.5

a) Draw the Thiessen polygon for the problem.

b) Compute the average rainfall over the area by the Thiessen method.

Problem 3.2.
The following are the rain gage observations during a storm.
Time since commencement
of storm (min.)
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50

Accumulated rainfall
depth (cm)
0.1
0.2
0.8
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1

a. Construct the mass curve of rainfall, and the rainfall hyetograph for this storm.
b. What are the maximum rainfall depths (cm) during 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35-min.
durations
Assignment.

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CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

Fall term
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Problem 3.3.
The area shown in the following figure is composed of a square plus an equilateral triangular plot
of side 10 km. The annual precipitation at the raingages A, B, C, D, E and F are 46, 65, 76, 80,
70, and 20 cm, respectively. Find the mean precipitation over the area by Thiessen polygon
method, and compare with the arithmetic method.
A

10 km
E

10 km

10 km

Assignment.

10 km

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CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

Fall term
__________________________________________________________________________________________

McGill University
Department of Civil engineering and Applied Mechanics
CIVE-323 HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
Instructor: Dr. Tan-Danh Nguyen
__________________________________________________________________________

SOLUTION TO ASSIGNMENT 3
SOLUTION 3.1.
a)

2 (7,11)
3 (12,10)
1 (2,9)

4 (6,2)

b) Total surface area of the basin:

A = 39.0 + 31.2 + 42.3 + 69.5 = 182 mi2.
Areal mean rainfall:
P=

39.0
31.2
42.3
69.5
(0.59) +
(0.79) +
(0.94) +
(1.69) =1.126 in.
182
182
182
182

Assignment.

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CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

Fall term
__________________________________________________________________________________________

SOLUTION 3.2.
a. The mass curve of rainfall is the plot of cumulative rainfall versus time. See Figure 5.3-a.

Figure 5.3-a
3.5

Cumulative rainfall

2.5

2.5
1.8

2.7

2.9

3.1

1.5

1.5
0.8

1
0.5

0.1

0.2

10

0
15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Time (min.)

The hyetograph: The hyetograph shows rainfall intensity in daily period versus time. The
calculation of rainfall intensity for hyetograph is given in the following table and the
hyetograph is shown in Figure 5.3-b.
Time
(min.)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50

Assignment.

Accumulated
rainfall depth
(cm)
0
0.1
0.2
0.8
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1

Rainfall depth
during 5 min.
(P, cm)
0
0.1
0.1
0.6
0.7
0.3
0.2
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.2

Daily rainfall
I = (P / 5)*60
(cm / hr)
0
1.2
1.2
7.2
8.4
3.6
2.4
6.0
2.4
2.4
2.4

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CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

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Rainfall intensity (cm/hr)

Figure 5.3-b
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

8.4
7.2
6
3.6
2.4
1.2

2.4

2.4

2.4

40

45

50

1.2

10

15

20

25

30

35

Time (min)

b. Calculation of maximum rainfall depth for various durations.

Time
(min)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Max

Cumulativ
e
0
0.1
0.2
0.8
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1

Assignment.

5-min

10-min

0.1
0.1
0.6
0.7
0.3
0.2
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.7

0.2
0.7
1.3
1.0
0.5
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4
1.3

Rainfall depth (cm)

15-min
20-min

0.8
1.4
1.6
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.6
1.6

1.5
1.7
1.8
1.7
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.8

25-min

30-min

35-min

1.8
1.9
2.3
1.9
1.4
1.3
2.3

2.0
2.4
2.5
2.1
1.6
2.5

2.5
2.6
2.7
2.3
2.7

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CIVE-323 Hydrology and Water Resources

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SOLUTION 3.3.
a. Thiessen method.

B
A

10 km

10 km

10 km

I
C

D
Calculate the areas covered by stations:

10 km

S(ABCD) = (10)(10) = 100 km2.

S(ABCD) = (5 2 )(5 2 ) = 50 km2.
S(AAD) = S(ABB) = S(BCC) = S(CDD) = (100 50) / 4 = 12.5 km2.
S(AFD) = 0.5(10)(10 sin60o) = 43.3 km2.
S(FGHI) = S(ADHG) = S(DDHI) = S(AFD) / 3 = 43.3 / 3 = 14.43 km2.
Total area: S = 100 + 43.3 = 143.3 km2.
SA = S(AAD) + S(ADGH) = 12.5 + 14.43 = 26.93 km2.
SD = SA = 26.93 km2.
SB = S(ABB) = 12.5 km2.
SC = SB = 12.5 km2.
SE = S(ABCD) = 50 km2.
SF = S(FGHI) = 14.43 km2.
Apply the Thiessen method: PA =

w .P
i

, where: wi =

Si
S

Hence,
PA =

26.93
12.5
12.5
26.93
50
14.43
46 +
65 +
76 +
80 +
70 +
20 = 62.42 cm.
143.3
143.3
143.3
143.3
143.3
143.3

b. Arithmetic method.
PA = (46 + 65 + 76 + 80 + 70 + 20) / 6 = 59.5 cm.

Assignment.

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