Hydrograph - Delos Reyes Rachel L.

CIE 006
HYDROGRAPH
RESEARCH PAPER
SUBMITTED BY: RACHEL L. DELOS REYES
SUBMITTED TO: ENGR ARGIE ESPIRITU

What Is Hydrograph?
A hydrograph is a graph showing the rate of flow (discharge) versus time past a specific point in a
river, channel, or conduit carrying flow. The rate of flow is typically expressed in cubic meters or
cubic feet per second (cms or cfs). It can also refer to a graph showing the volume of water reaching
a particular outfall, or location in a sewerage network. Graphs are commonly used in the design
of sewerage, more specifically, the design of surface water sewerage systems and combined
sewers.
To give an example, a natural landscape with no development or impervious surfaces will have
high levels of rainfall abstraction and produce less runoff due to the vegetation and infiltration
capacity of the soils, which produces a gradually sloped hydrograph. rainwater will meet
multiple obstacles while flowing towards a stream in the form of rainfall interception by
vegetation, transpiration by plants, evaporation from land surfaces, infiltration into soils, and
ponding of water in surface depressions.
When the natural landscape is altered by development, trees and other vegetation are
replaced by impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, gutters, and parking lots. These
impervious areas curtail the landscape s ability to filter and infiltrate water, and results in higher
peak flows and greater runoff. Stripping the landscape’s ability to naturally manage stormwater
results in increased erosion, sedimentation, and nutrients entering our waterways. If a site
planner knows what the hydrograph for a site looked like prior to development, they can amend
their site plan to accommodate increased runoff onsite using practices such as rain gardens and
bio-swales. This will produce hydrograph. For previously developed sites, best management
practices can be installed within the confines of existing site conditions. Simple practices, such
as disconnecting a downspout and redirecting runoff into a lawn or garden, will have positive
impacts on a site’s hydrograph and help prevent pollutants from entering your local stream. At
the end of the day, little adjustments can help solve large problems and understanding your
hydrograph is one step towards a cleaner Bay.

COMPONENTS OF A HYDROGRAPH
• Rising limb: The rising limb of hydro graph, also known as concentration curve, reflects a
prolonged increase in discharge from a catchment area, typically in response to a rainfall
event
• Recession (or falling) limb: The recession limb extends from the peak flow rate onward.
The end of stormflow (aka quick flow or direct runoff) and the return to groundwater-derived
flow (base flow) is often taken as the point of inflection of the recession limb. The recession
limb represents the withdrawal of water from the storage built up in the basin during the
earlier phases of the hydrograph.
• Peak discharge: the highest point on the hydro graph when the rate of discharge is greatest
• Lag time: the time interval from the center of mass of rainfall excess to the peak of the
resulting hydrograph • Time to peak: time interval from the start of the resulting hydro graph
• Discharge: the rate of flow (volume per unit time) passing a specific location in a river or
other channel
There are several types of hydrographs which include:
1. Natural hydrograph
2. Unit hydrograph
3. Dimensionless unit hydrograph
4. Synthetic hydrograph
5. Dam breach hydrograph (Special case - natural or synthetic)
Natural Hydrograph
A natural hydrograph is one recorded at a stream gaging site and is a fingerprint of the
upstream drainage area's response to rainfall (Figure 1).
Unit Hydrograph
A unit hydrograph is a natural or synthetic hydrograph representing one inch of runoff',
uniformly from the watershed during a specified time. In other words, the area under the
graph is actually a volume of one inch of runoff.

Dimensionless Unit Hydrograph
A dimensionless unit hydrograph is a generic combination of many natural unit
hydrographs. The ordinate and abscissa scales are ratios of the discharge with respect to
the peak discharge and the time relative to the time ,to peak, respectively (Figure 2).
Synthetic Hydrographs
A synthetic hydrograph is calculated based on watershed and storm characteristics. (In
SCS, soils, land use, vegetative cover, size, slope, and time of concentration are important
watershed characteristics.) Synthetic hydrographs are used to simulate natural
hydrographs for ungaged watersheds (Figure 3).

The peak flow charts in Chapter 2, Engineering Field Manual and in Technical Release
55 were developed from the peaks of many synthetic hydrographs. These charts are used
in the design of conservation practices, such as grassed waterways, channels, terraces,
ponds, etc.
Two additional uses made of synthetic hydrographs are for reservoir routing and reach
routing (Figure 3a). These are important hydrographs in SCS.

Dam Breach Hydrograph
A dam breach hydrograph represents the sudden release of water from the impoundment due to a
breach, followed by the draining of the reservoir. The volume represented by the hydrograph is
the storage volume of the reservoir released during the breach. Factors affecting the shape of the
breach hydrograph include: size and shape of breach, depth of water at the dam, volume of stored
water, surface area of reservoir, and shape (especially length) of reservoir. A breach hydrograph
can be natural (recorded) or synthetic (a simulation). Figure 4 shows a breach hydrograph from
the instantaneous failure of a dam.

Physical Factors that Influence Shape
The most common physical factors influencing the shape of a hydrograph are:
1. Topography (slope).
2. Watershed shape (fan/elongated).
3. Size of watershed.
4. Stream channels and flood plains (size, depth, width, etc).
5. Rainfall (amount, duration, distribution).
6. Land use and vegetative cover.
7. Soil types.
Hydrograph Components
A hydrograph is made up of several parts which, taken together, reveal considerable information
about the watershed. Take, for example, the hydrograph shown in Figure 5.
Graphical Features
Graphical features of a hydrograph include the following points:
A Point of rise
B. Rising point of inflection
C. Peak
D. Recession point of inflection
E. End point of recession

These points, in turn, delineate the following segments (Figure 6):
A-C Rising limb - Generally reflects storm characteristics.
B-D Crest segment - Highest concentration of runoff.
C-E Recession limb - Withdrawal of stored water.
A-E Base time of hydrograph - Duration of runoff.

The area under the hydrograph (Figure 7) is the curve described by points A, B, C, D, E,
and the abscissa, and represents the volume of runoff.
Uses of Hydrographs
Common uses of hydrographs include:
1. Watershed evaluations.
2. Design of structural works.
3. Flood plain management studies.
4. Emergency action plans.
5. Design of farm ponds.
6. Channel design.
7. Grade stabilization structures.
The primary purpose of using hydrograph analysis is to ensure a safe design of structural
works. Hydrographs are an integral part of procedures in the Water Resources Program.
Hydrographs, or some feature of them, such as peak discharge, are used in the planning
and design of water control structures.

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CIE 006

SUBMITTED BY: RACHEL L. DELOS REYES

SUBMITTED TO: ENGR ARGIE ESPIRITU

of sewerage, more specifically, the design of surface water sewerage systems and combined

ponding of water in surface depressions.

hydrograph is one step towards a cleaner Bay.

prolonged increase in discharge from a catchment area, typically in response to a rainfall

earlier phases of the hydrograph.

3. Dimensionless unit hydrograph

5. Dam breach hydrograph (Special case - natural or synthetic)

upstream drainage area's response to rainfall (Figure 1).

A unit hydrograph is a natural or synthetic hydrograph representing one inch of runoff',

graph is actually a volume of one inch of runoff.

A dimensionless unit hydrograph is a generic combination of many natural unit

A synthetic hydrograph is calculated based on watershed and storm characteristics. (In

watershed characteristics.) Synthetic hydrographs are used to simulate natural

hydrographs for ungaged watersheds (Figure 3).

in the design of conservation practices, such as grassed waterways, channels, terraces,

routing (Figure 3a). These are important hydrographs in SCS.

the instantaneous failure of a dam.

2. Watershed shape (fan/elongated).

4. Stream channels and flood plains (size, depth, width, etc).

5. Rainfall (amount, duration, distribution).

6. Land use and vegetative cover.

Graphical features of a hydrograph include the following points:

B. Rising point of inflection

D. Recession point of inflection

E. End point of recession

A-C Rising limb - Generally reflects storm characteristics.

B-D Crest segment - Highest concentration of runoff.

C-E Recession limb - Withdrawal of stored water.

A-E Base time of hydrograph - Duration of runoff.

and the abscissa, and represents the volume of runoff.

Common uses of hydrographs include:

2. Design of structural works.

3. Flood plain management studies.

4. Emergency action plans.

5. Design of farm ponds.

7. Grade stabilization structures.

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