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Lesson 23 Base Flow Separation
23.1 Methods of Base Flow Separation
The surface-flow hydrograph is obtained from the total storm
hydrograph by separating the quick-response flow from the slow
response runoff. It is usual to consider the interflow as a part of
the surface flow in view of its quick response. Thus only the base
flow is to be deducted from the total storm hydrograph to obtain
the surface flow hydrograph.
There are three methods of base-flow separation that are in
common use.
23.1.1. Method 1
In this method the separation of the base flow is achieved by
joining with a straight line the beginning of the surface runoff to
a point on the recession limb representing the end of the direct
runoff.
In Fig. 23.1, pointA represents the beginning ofthe direct runoff
off and it is usually easy to identify in view of the sharp change
in the runoff rate at that point. Point B, marking the end of the
direct runoff is rather difficult to locate exactly.
Fig.
23.1.
Method
1
for
separation.(Source:Subramanya, 2008)
base
flow
An empirical equation for the time interval N (days) from the peak
to the point B is
(23.1)
WhereA is drainage area in km2and N is in days. Points A and B
are joined by a straight line to demarcate to the base flow and
surface runoff. This method of base-flow separation is the
simplest of all the three methods.
23.1.2 Method 2
In this method the base flow curve existing prior to the
commencement of the surface runoff is extended till it intersects
the ordinate drawn at the peak (point C in Fig. 23.2). This point
is joined to point B by a straight line. Segment AC and CB
demarcate the base flow and surface runoff. This is probably the
most widely used base-flow separation procedure.
Fig. 23.2. Method 2
(Source:Subramanya, 2008)
for
base
flow
separation.
23.1.3 Method 3
In this method the base flow recession curve after the depletion
of the flood water is extended backwards till it intersects the
ordinate at the point of inflection (line EF in Fig. 23.3). Points A
and F are joined by an arbitrary smooth curve. This method of
base-flow separation is realistic in situations where the
groundwater contributions are significant and reach the stream
quickly.
Fig. 23.3. Method 3
(Source:Subramanya, 2008)
for
base
flow
separation.
The surface runoff hydrograph obtained after the base-flow
separation is also known as direct runoff hydrograph (DRH).
Example 1
The following are the ordinates of the hydrograph of flow from a
catchment area of 770 km2 due to a 6-h rainfall. Derive the
ordinates of DRH. Make suitable assumptions regarding the base
flow.
Time from beginning of
storm
(h)
Discharge
(m3/
21 36 40 35 27
42 65
s)
5 0 0 0 0
0
6
12 18 24 30 36
Time from beginning of
storm
(h)
Discharge
(m3/ 20 14 10
70 50 42
s)
5 5 0
42 48 54 60 66 72
Answer:
Given: catchment area (A) = 770 km2
Using equation 23.1,
From given data, with our convenience, base flow = 42 m3/s at 72
h
Therefore, DRH = Flood Hydrograph – Base flow
Time from
beginning Discharge Base flow DRH
of storm
h
m3/s
m3/s
m3/s
0
40
42
-2
6
65
42
23
12
215
42
173
18
360
42
318
24
400
42
358
30
350
42
308
36
270
42
228
42
205
42
163
48
145
42
103
54
100
42
58
60
70
42
28
66
50
42
8
72
42
42
0
Example 2
The daily stream flow data at a site having a drainage area of 6500
km2 are given in the following table. Separate the base flow using
the above three methods.
Time (days) Discharge (m3/s)
1
1600
2
1550
3
5000
4
11300
5
8600
6
6500
7
5000
8
3800
9
2800
10
2200
11
1850
12
1600
13
1330
14
1300
15
1280
Answer
1. Plot the total runoff hydrographMethod 1: join point A, the
beginning of direct runoff, to point B, the end of direct runoff.
Both points are selected by judgment.
2. Method 2: Extend the recession curve before the storm up to
point C below the peak. Join point C to D, computed using
equation
3. Method 3: Extend the recession curve backward to point E.
Join point E to A
4. The
ordinates DRH by three methods are given in Table
Table Ordinates of DRH by different methods
Base flow
Direct runoff
Tim
e
Total
runoff
(da
ys)
(m3/s)
(m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s)
1
1600
1600
1600
1600
0
0
0
2
1550
1550
1550
1550
0
0
0
3
5000
1520
1480
1500
3480
3520
3500
4
11300
1500
1400
1450
9800
9900
9850
5
8600
1450
1700
1400
7150
6900
7200
6
6500
1450
1950
1400
5050
4550
5100
7
5000
1450
2300
1400
3550
2700
3600
8
3800
1400
2550
1400
2400
1250
2400
9
2800
1380
2800
1380
1420
0
1420
Meth
od 1
Meth
od 2
Meth
od 3
Meth
od 1
Meth
od 2
Meth
od 3
10
2200
1380
2200
1380
820
0
820
11
1850
1380
1850
1380
470
0
470
12
1600
1350
1600
1350
250
0
250
13
1330
1330
1330
1330
0
0
0
14
1300
1300
1300
1300
0
0
0
15
1280
1280
1280
1280
0
0
0
23.2 Effective Rainfall Hyetograph
Effective rainfall (also known as Excess rainfall) (ER) is that part
of the rainfall that becomes direct runoff at the outlet of the
watershed. It is thus the total rainfall in a given duration from
which abstractions such as infiltration and initial losses are
subtracted.
For purposes of correlating DRH with the rainfall which produced
the flow, the hyetograph of the rainfall is also pruned by
deducting the losses. Figure 23.4 shows the hyetograph of a
storm. The initial loss and infiltration losses are subtracted from
it. The resulting hyetograph is known as effective rainfall
hyetograph (ERH). It is also known as excess rainfall hyetograph.
Fig. 23.4.Effective rainfall hyetograph. (Source:Subramanya,
2008)
Both DRH and ERH represent the same total quantity but in
different units. Since ERH is usually in cm/h plotted agains1 time,
the area of ERH multiplied by the catchment area gives the total
volume of direct runoff which is the same as the area of DRH.
Theinitial loss and infiltration losses are estimated based on the
available data of the catchment.
Example 3
A 4-hour storm occurs over an 80 km2 watershed. The details of
the catchment are as follows:
Sub Area Φ index
Hourly rain (mm)
km2
mm/h
1st hour 2nd hour 3rd hour 4th hour
15
10
16
48
22
10
25
15
16
42
20
8
35
21
12
40
18
6
5
16
15
42
18
8
Calculate the runoff from catchment and the hourly distribution
of the effective rainfall whole catchment.
Answer:
Totalrunoff = 2.46Mm3
Hourly distribution of the effective rainfall for the whole
catchment:
Effective rainfall (mm)
1st hour
1.4375
2nd hour
25.375
3rd hour
0
4th hour
3.9375
Example 4
A storm in a certain catchment had three successive 6-h intervals
of rainfall magnitude of 3.0 cm, 5.0 cm and 4.0 cm, respectively.
The flood hydrograph at the outlet of the catchment resulting from
this storm is as follows:
ime
(h)
0
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
lood hydrograph ordinates (m3/s)
30
480 2060 4450 6010 6010 5080 399
ime
48
54
(h)
60
66
72
78
lood hydrograph ordinates (m3/s) 2866 1866 1060 500
170
30
If the area of the catchment is 8791.2 km2, estimate the index of
the storm. Assume the base flow as 30 m3/s.
Answer
Flood hydrograph ordinates = DRH ordinates +Base flow
ordinates
Direct runoff(cm) =
Where
is direct runoff ordinates (m3/s), is time interval between
successive ordinates (h), A is catchment area (km2)
Time Flood hydrograph Ordinates Base flow DRO
h
m3/s
m3/s
m3/s
0
30
30
0
6
480
30
450
12
2060
30
2030
18
4450
30
4420
24
6010
30
5980
30
6010
30
5980
36
5080
30
5050
42
3996
30
3966
48
2866
30
2836
54
1866
30
1836
60
1060
30
1030
66
500
30
470
72
170
30
140
78
30
30
0
= 34188
Therefore,
Direct runoff (cm) =
Directrunoff (cm) = 8.4
Therefore
φ = 0.2cm/h
Rainfall (cm)
3
5
4
Time interval (h)
6
6
6
Rainfall intensity (cm/h) 0.5 0.833 0.667
index (cm/h)
0.2
0.2
0.2
Excess rainfall intensity 0.3 0.633 0.467
23.3 Elemental Hydrograph
If a small, impervious area is subjected to a constant rate rainfall,
the resulting runoff hydrograph will appear much as above, and
is known as elemental hydrograph (Fig. 23.5). In the beginning,
there will be surface detention (rainfall-runoff) so as to start the
sheet flow over the surface. At point B, known as point of
equilibrium, outflow rate equals inflow rate. When rainfall ends
(at C), recession starts, i.e., outflow rate and detention volume
increases.
Fig. 23.5.Elemental hydrograph. (Source:Singh,1994)
References
Singh, V. P. (1994). Elementary Hydrology, Prentice Hall of
India Private Limited, 451.
Subramanya, K. (2008). Engineering Hydrology, Third edition,
Tata McGraw Hill, 202-203.
Suggested Reading
Murty, V.V.N. and Jha, M.K. (2009).Land and Water
Management Engineering.Fifth edition, Kalyani Publishers,
Ludhiana.
Suresh R. (2007). Soil and Water Conservation
Engineering.Fourth edition, Standard Publishers Distributors,
New Delhi.
Last modified: Saturday, 15 March 2014, 6:34 AM
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