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Design Exercise No 3

This document provides information to estimate the average annual rainfall over a basin area using three different methods: 1) arithmetic mean, 2) Thiessen polygon, and 3) isohyetal. It includes the boundary coordinates of the watershed area and lists the name, location, and mean annual precipitation of weather stations both within and outside the basin. Tables are provided to show the calculations and results for each of the three methods.

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Ubair Javaid 16 (Game Play)
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77 views7 pages

Design Exercise No 3

This document provides information to estimate the average annual rainfall over a basin area using three different methods: 1) arithmetic mean, 2) Thiessen polygon, and 3) isohyetal. It includes the boundary coordinates of the watershed area and lists the name, location, and mean annual precipitation of weather stations both within and outside the basin. Tables are provided to show the calculations and results for each of the three methods.

Uploaded by

Ubair Javaid 16 (Game Play)
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Design No.

3
The names, locations by latitude and longitude and mean annual precipitations for certain
weather stations within and outside the catchment’s area are given below:

Name of Stations Latitude Longitude Mean Annual PPT.


( º º) ( º º) (cm)

Estimate the average rainfall over the basin area by using following three methods.

i. Arithmetic Mean Method


ii. Thiessen Polygon Method
iii. Isohyetal Method
The boundary of the watershed is rectangular and is defined by following four coordinates:

A( )

B( )

C( )

D( )

Related Theory

Average Precipitation over an Area


It is the amount of precipitation which can be assumed uniform for the entire area. By
simplest method, it can be obtained by adding the precipitations of all stations and dividing by the
number of stations in the area or outside the area closer to the boundary. The rain gauges used to
measure precipitation are shown in Figure 3.1.

Significance of Average Precipitation


If average precipitation over an area is known, then it is very easy to compute the total volume
of rainfall received by the area for nature. Rainfall volume = Area x Average precipitation.
Methods of Finding Average Precipitation over an Area
There are three common methods for averaging precipitation over an area.
i. Arithmetic Mean Method
ii. Thiessen Polygon Method
iii. Isohyetal Method

Arithmetic Mean Method


It is the simplest method of averaging precipitation over an area. This method is applicable where
precipitation gauging stations are more or less equally spaced and also precipitation amounts do
not vary significantly with each other.
The average precipitation over an area by arithmetic mean method is obtained as follows:

Where N is total number of stations and P1 is mean annual precipitation at ith station.

Table 3.1: Average Precipitation by Arithmetic Mean Method:-


No. of Stations Name of Stations Mean Annual PPT.
(cm)
Thiessen Polygon Method
The fundamental principle followed in this method consists of weighing the value of
precipitation at each station by a suitable proportion of basin area. Therefore ppt. data is plotted
over a map (graph). The Thiessen polygon map for a typical watershed is shown in Figure 3.2.

Procedure:
1. Select suitable and same scale for X and Y-axis.
2. Plot catchment’s boundary and station locations.
3. Plot polygons around each strength by connection closest station by straight dashed lines and
drawing perpendicular bisectors to make the sides of polygon.
4. Determine area of each polygon by counting the number of squares.
5. Compute product (P1 A1) and sum all products.
6. Compute average precipitation using following equation.

Where, N is number of polygons within catchments, P1 is the mean annual precipitation for ith
polygon and A1 is the area of ith polygon.
Table 3.2: Table of calculations for Thiessen Polygon Method:-
Gauging Observed Area of Product
Sr. # Stations Annual ppt. Polygon, Ai (Pi Ai)
Pi (cm) (min2) (mm min2)
Isohyetal Method:
It is the line representing the same amount of precipitation. In Isohyetal method, area between two
consecutive isohyets is determined. Weighted average precipitation for each segment is computed
and then average precipitation for the entire basin is determined. The Isohyetal map for a typical
watershed is shown in Figure 3.3.

Procedure
i. Select suitable and same scale for X and Y-axis.
ii. Plot catchment’s boundary and station locations.
iii. Mention precipitation amounts on each station.
iv. Select suitable contour interval and number of isohyets.
v. Draw isohyets by linear interpolation between stations.
vi. Determine area between two consecutive isohyets.
vii. Calculate product (Pi Ai).
viii. Compute average precipitation by formula.

Where, N is number of strips / segments, Pi is the mean precipitation for ith strip and Ai is the area of
ith strip.

Table 3.3: Table of Calculations For Isohyetal Method:-


Isohyetal
Precipitation Mean ppt. (mm) Area of Strip
Sr. # (mm) (min2) (mm. min2)
Result

The average annual precipitation for the watershed is:

Pavg = mm by using mean arithmetic method.

Pavg = mm by using Thiessen polygon method.

Pavg = mm by using Isohyetal method.

COMMENTS:

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