TITLE : BASIC HYDROLOGY

1.0 OBJECTIVE
To identify the relationship between rainfall and runoff.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the knowledge and skills they
have learned to:

a. Understand the basic terms in hydrology.

b. Understand the concept of watershed area including time of concentration

(to) and outlet or concentration point.

c. Understand the factors which influence the runoff.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

(a) Hydrologic Cycle

The hydrologic cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the surface of the
ocean. As moist air is lifted, it cools and water vapors condenses to form clouds. Moisture is
transported around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation. Once the water
reaches the ground, one of two processes may occur; 1) some of the water may evaporate
back into the atmosphere or 2) the water may penetrate the surface and become groundwater.
Groundwater either seeps its way to into the oceans, rivers, and streams, or is released back
into the atmosphere through transpiration.
The balance of water that remains on the earth's surface is runoff, which empties into
lakes, rivers and streams and is carried back to the oceans, where the cycle begins again.
Lake effect snowfall is good example of the hydrologic cycle at work. Below is a vertical
cross-section summarizing the processes of the hydrologic cycle that contribute to the
production of lake effect snow. The cycle begins as cold winds (horizontal blue arrows) blow
across a large lake, a phenomena that occurs frequently in the late fall and winter months
around the Great Lakes.
Evaporation of warm surface water increases the amount of moisture in the colder,
drier air flowing immediately above the lake surface. With continued evaporation, water
vapor in the cold air condenses to form ice-crystal clouds, which are transported toward
shore. By the time these clouds reach the shoreline, they are filled with snowflakes too large
to remain suspended in the air and consequently, they fall along the shoreline as precipitation.
The intensity of lake effect snowfall can be enhanced by additional lifting due to the
topographical features (hills) along the shoreline. Once the snow begins to melt, the water is
either absorbed by the ground and becomes groundwater, or goes returns back to the lake as
runoff.

Figure 3.0 (i) Basic Hydrologic Cycle

Figure 3.0 (ii) Hydrologic Cycle

 (b) Surface Runoff

Runoff is flow from a drainage basin or watershed that appears in surface streams. It
generally consists of the flow that is unaffected by artificial diversions, storages or other
works that society might have on or in a stream channel. The flow is made up partly of
precipitation that falls directly on the stream , surface runoff that flows over the land surface
and through channels, subsurface runoff that infiltrates the surface soils and moves laterally
towards the stream, and groundwater runoff from deep percolation through the soil horizons.
Part of the subsurface flow enters the stream quickly, while the remaining portion may take a
longer period before joining the water in the stream. When each of the component flows enter
the stream, they form the total runoff. The total runoff in the stream channels is called stream
flow and it is generally regarded as direct runoff or base flow.

Water storage in the ocean we describe how the oceans act as a large storehouse of
water that evaporates to become atmospheric moisture. The oceans are kept full by
precipitation and also by runoff and discharge from rivers and the ground. Many people
probably have an overly-simplified idea that precipitation falls on the land, flows overland
(runoff), and runs into rivers, which then empty into the oceans. That is "overly simplified"
because rivers also gain and lose water to the ground. Still, it is true that much of the water in
rivers comes directly from runoff from the land surface, which is defined as surface runoff.

When rain hits saturated or impervious ground it begins to flow overland downhill. It
is easy to see if it flows down your driveway to the curb and into a storm sewer, but it is
harder to notice it flowing overland in a natural setting. During a heavy rain you might notice
small rivulets of water flowing downhill. Water will flow along channels as it moves into
larger creeks, streams, and rivers.

As with all aspects of the water cycle, the interaction between precipitation and
surface runoff varies according to time and geography. Similar storms occurring in the
Amazon jungle and in the desert Southwest of the United States will produce different
surface-runoff effects. Surface runoff is affected by both meteorological factors and the
physical geology and topography of the land. Only about a third of the precipitation that falls
over land runs off into streams and rivers and is returned to the oceans. The other two-thirds
is evaporated, transpired, or soaks (infiltrates) into groundwater. Surface runoff can also be
diverted by humans for their own uses.
 Figure 3.0 (b) Basic Runoff Process

4.0 THEORY

Runoff is generated by rainstorms and its occurrence and quantity are

dependent on the characteristics of the rainfall event, i.e. intensity, duration and
distribution. The rainfall-runoff process is extremely complex, making it difficult to
model accurately. There are, in addition, other important factors which influence the
runoff generating process like natural surface detention, soil infiltration characteristics
and the drainage pattern formed by natural flow paths. The soil type, vegetative cover
and topography play as important roles. Rainfall and runoff are very important
hydrologic components because of their direct relations with water resources quantity,
flood, stream flow and design of dam and hydraulic structure.
5.0 EQUIPMENTS

Figure 5 (a) Basic Hydrological Instrument / Machine

Experiment Sprinkle 19 tube Plexiglass Switch

tank filled nozzle manomete cover box

Inclination Measurement
Circulating Flow rate Supply
adjustment weir
pump measuremen tank

Figure 5 (b) : Basic hydrology instrument

 Figure 5 (c) Rain Gauge

Figure 5 (d) Rain Gauge Reading Watch

Figure 5 (d) Stop Watch

Figure 5 (e) The Rail Adjustment

Figure 5 (f) Adjustment Equipment

Figure (g) Water Level Reading

6.0 PROCEDURE

Case 1: Flat and sandy soil surface profile (without slope)

Case 2: Flat and sandy soil surface with 1:100 slope profile.

1. The rail at side of the catchment area must be adjust to get the slope is zero,
according the requirement for Case 1. (from upstream to downstream)
2. Move the profile to obtain the cross section at the upstream as in case the flat
and sandy soils surface from upstream to downstream.
3. The steel ruler has been used to flat the sand.
4. Switch on the pump and the stop watch must started at the same time.
5. The discharge and the reading from the rain gauge have been recorded every
30 second (during the rainfall).
6. The pump has been switched off when the peak discharge achieved (after 6
discharge reading with same value obtained) to stop the rainfall. The time
while stop of rainfall has been recorded.
7. At the same time, record the discharge for each 30 second until the values
reach nearly to zero.
8. The procedure has been repeated and change the slope for case 2.