LEC 6

ANALYSIS OF PRECIPITATION
DATA
POINT DATA ANALYSIS
Point precipitation data refers to precipitation of a
station. This data could be in form of hourly record,
daily record, monthly precipitation or annual
precipitation. Depending upon the nature of catchment
and its area, there could be as many gauging stations
as feasible.
Before using rainfall data, it is necessary to check
the data for continuing and consistency
Missing data
Record errors
ESTIMATION OF MISSING
PRECIPITATION RECORD
Some precipitation stations may have short
breaks in the records because of absence of
the observer or because of instrumental
failures. In the procedure used by the U. S.
Weather Bureau, the missing precipitation of a
station is estimated from the observations of
precipitations at some other stations as close
to and as evenly spaced around the station
with the missing record as possible.
ESTIMATION OF MISSING
PRECIPITATION RECORD
Methods for estimating missing data
1.Arithmetic Mean Method
2.Normal Ratio Method
The station whose data is missing is called interpolation
station and gauging stations whose data are used to
calculate the missing station data are called index
stations.
If the normal annual precipitation (mean of 30 years of
annual precipitation) of the index stations lies within
10% of normal annual precipitation of interpolation
station then we apply arithmetic mean method to
determine the missing precipitation record otherwise the
normal ratio method is used for this purpose.
ESTIMATION OF MISSING
PRECIPITATION RECORD
Consider that record is missing from a station X. Now
let,
N = Normal annual precipitation
P = Storm Precipitation
Let Px be the missing precipitation for station X and
Nx , the normal annual precipitation of this station, Na
, Nb , and Nc are normal annual precipitation of nearby
three stations, A, B and C respectively while Pa , Pb
and Pc are the storm precipitation of that period for
these stations.
ESTIMATION OF MISSING
PRECIPITATION RECORD
Now we have to compare Nx with Na , Nb and
Nc separately. If difference of Nx - Na , Nx
Nb , and Nx Nc is within 10% of Nx , then
we use simple arithmetic means method
otherwise the normal ratio method is used.
SIMPLE ARITHMETIC
MEAN METHOD
Select rain gauge index stations (e.g. 1, 2 &
3) as close to and as evenly spaced around
the station with the missing record (i.e.
Station X)
Collection of rainfall data for these stations
on the day for which data at station X is
missing
Normal annual rainfall at all these stations
should also be collected.
SIMPLE ARITHMETIC
MEAN METHOD
According to the arithmetic mean method the
missing precipitation Px is given as:

In case of three stations 1, 2 and 3,

NORMAL RATIO
METHOD
If average annual rainfall at each of these three index
stations differs more than 10% of average annual rainfall
of station X, then normal ratio method is applicable.

Where P1, P2, P3 & Px represent respective rainfall data

at stations 1, 2, 3, and X respectively of the day for which
data is missing at station X, and N1, N2, N3 & Nx
represent their respective normal annual rainfalls.
Example 3.2
Find out the missing storm precipitation of station C given in the
following table:

Station A B C D E
Storm Precipitation (cm) 9.7 8.3 ------ 11.7 8.0

Normal Annual 100.3 109.5 93.5 125.7 117.5

Precipitation (cm)
SOLUTION:
10% of Nc = 93.5 x 10/100 = 9.35
10% Range of Nc= 84.15 to 102.85 (Values of Nb ,
Nd and Ne are out of this range, hence normal mean
method applicable)

Pc = (1/4) (9.7 x 93.5/100.3 + 8.3 x 93.5/109.5 +

11.7 x 93.5/125.7 + 8.0 x 93.5/117.5)
= 7.8 cm.
EXAMPLE

Precipitation station X was inoperative for

part of a month during which a storm occurred.
The storm totals at three surrounding stations
A, B and C were respectively 10.7, 8.9 and
12.2 cm. The normal annual precipitation
amounts at stations X, A, B and C are
respectively 97.8, 112, 93.5 and 119.9 cm.
Estimate the storm precipitation for station X.
EXAMPLE
Solution:
Pa = 10.7 cm Na = 112 cm
Pb = 8.90 cm Nb = 93.5 cm
Pc = 12.2 cm Nc = 119.9 cm
Px = ? Nx = 97.8 cm
10% of Nx = 97.8 x 10/100 = 9.78 cm
Nx Na = 97.8 112 = -14.2 cm (more than +10% of Nx,
therefore no need to calculate Nx Nb and Nx Nc )
So we will use Normal Ratio Method.
Px = (1/3) (10.7 x 97.8/112 + 8.90 x 97.8/93.5 + 12.2 x 97.8/119.9)
= 9.5 cm.
CONSISTENCY OF
PRECIPITATION DATA OR
DOUBLE MASS ANALYSIS
Some of the common causes for inconsistency of
record are:
(i) shifting of a rain gauge station to a new location,
(ii) the neighborhoods of the station undergoing a
marked change,
(iii) change in the ecosystem due to calamities, such
as forest fires, land slides, and
(iv) occurrence of observational error from a certain
date
 TEST FOR CONSISTENCY
OF RECORD
Accumulated Annual Rainfall at x
P in units of 103 cm

Accumulated Annual Rainfall of 10 station Mean P in units of l03

cm
DOUBLE-MASS CURVE
TECHNIQUE
The checking for inconsistency of a record is
done by the double-mass curve technique.
This technique is based on the principle that
when each recorded data comes from the
same parent population, they are consistent.
TEST FOR CONSISTENCY RECORD
(DOUBLE MASS CURVE
TECHNIQUES)
Let a group of 5 to 10 base stations in the neighbourhood of the
problem station X is selected
Arrange the data of X station rainfall and the average of the
neighbouring stations in reverse chronological order (from recent to
old record)
Accumulate the precipitation of station X and the average values of
the group base stations starting from the latest record.
Plot the against as shown on the next figure
A decided break in the slope of the resulting plot is observed that
indicates a change in precipitation regime of station X, i.e
inconsistency.
Therefore, is should be corrected by the factor shown on the next
slide
TABLE 1. ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
SOLUTION
A double mass curve is plotted by taking cumulative of average
precipitation of surrounding stations along x-axis and
accumulative precipitation of station X along y-axis for which
consistency of data is being investigated. The double mass curve
is shown in Figure

Double Mass Curve

CORRECTION FACTOR
Slope of Ist line = Sa = 0.854
Slope of deviating line = So = 1.176
Correction to values (multiplying factor) =

0.854/1.176 = 0.70
AREAL PRECIPITATION
DATA ANALYSIS
Estimation of Average Precipitation Over a Basin
Rain gauges rainfall represent only point sampling of the areal
distribution of a storm
The important rainfall for hydrological analysis is a rainfall over
an area, such as over the catchment
To convert the point rainfall values at various stations to in to
average value over a catchment, the following methods are
used:
Arithmetic Mean Method
Thiessen Polygon Method
Isohyetal method
ARITHMETIC MEAN
METHOD
When the area is physically and climatically homogenous and the
required accuracy is small, the average rainfall ( P) for a basin
can be obtained as the arithmetic mean of the high values
recorded at various stations.
Applicable rarely for practical purpose
1+2+3++..+ 1
P = =
=1

EXAMPLE

Six rain gauges were installed in a relatively flat area and storm
precipitation from these gauges was recorded as 3.7, 4.9, 6.8,
11.4, 7.6 and 12.7 cm respectively from gauges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and
6. Find average precipitation over the catchment.
Solution:
P (average) = (3.7 + 4.9 + 6.8 + 11.4 + 7.6 + 12.7)/6
= 7.85 cm.
THIESSEN POLYGON
METHOD
The method of Thiessen polygons consists of attributing to each
station an influence zone in which it is considered that the rainfall
is equivalent to that of the station.
The influence zones are represented by convex polygons.
These polygons are obtained using the mediators of the
segments which link each station to the closest neighbouring
stations
THIESSEN POLYGIN
METHOD

11 + 22+ +
P=
1+2++3

P = = P (Ai/At)

Ai/At is called the weightage factor of station i.

EXAMPLE
Following is shown map of a catchment having 6 rainfall recording
stations Fig. below
EXAMPLE
Find the Average Precipitation over the whole
catchment.
The recorded precipitations are shown on the
topographic map of the catchment. The
Thiessens Polygons are constructed by the
method explained above. The precipitation and
polygon area are given below.
Table: Average Precipitation by Thiessen Polygon Method
EXAMPLE
 ISOHYETAL METHOD
The most accurate method of averaging precipitation over an area is the
isohyetal method.
For estimation of average precipitation of the catchment by isohyetal
method the following steps are used:
Draw the map of the area according to a certain scale.
Locate the points on map where precipitation measuring gauges are
installed.
Write the amount of precipitation for stations.
Draw isohyets (Lines joining points of equal precipitation).
Measure area enclosed between every two isohyets or the area enclosed by
an isohyet and boundary of the catchment.
Find average precipitation by the formula.
P (average) = (P1 A1 + P2 A2 + ...........+ Pn An)/A
ISOHYETAL METHOD
Where, P1= Mean precipitation of two isohyets 1 and 2
A1= Area between these two isohyets.
P2 = Mean precipitation of two isohyets 2 and 3
A2 = the area b/w these two isohyets. and, so on
Pn = Mean precipitation of isohyets n-1 and n
An = the area between these two isohyets.
It may be noted that the last and first areas mentioned above
may be between an isohyet and boundary of the catchment. In
this case the precipitation at the boundary line is required which
may be extrapolated or interpolated.
ISOHYETAL METHOD
 P1, P2, P3, . , Pn the values of the isohytes
A1, A2, A3, ., A4 are the inter isohytes area
respectively
A the total catchment area
P- the mean precipitation over the catchment
P = A1((P1+P2)/2) + A2((P2+P3)/2)+..+ An((P(n-1)+Pn)/2)
Note:The isohyet method is superior to the other two
methods especially when the stations are large in
number.
ISOHYETAL METHOD

P = a1((P1+P2)/2) + a2((P2+P3)/2)+..+ an((P(n-1)+Pn)/2)

EXAMPLE
From the data given in table below, which was obtained from
isohyetal map of a
catchment, find out the average precipitation of the catchment.
EXAMPLE
Note that the isohyet No. 1 and 8 were out of the boundary of the
catchment. The area between isohyet No. 1 and the boundary
was estimated to be 312 sq. km and that of between isohyet No. 8
and boundary was 494 sq. km. Precipitation on these boundaries
was interpolated as 3.0 and 3.1 cm, respectively.
Solution:
In isohyetal method we have to calculate the average
precipitation of every two consecutive isohyets. This is
given in Table below:
AVERAGE / MEAN
ANNUAL RAINFALL
It is simply, the average of total rainfall of several
consecutive years.
Greater the number of years considered, more
correct will be the mean value so obtained.
After studying rainfall records of a large number of
different places extending over many years, it has
been found that 35 years rainfall records are
required for a reliable estimate of mean annual
rainfall of any place.
AVERAGE / MEAN
ANNUAL RAINFALL
Sir Alexander Binnie has shown that if available record period
is less than 35 years then there will be error in the computed
mean annual rainfall given below: