RAINFALL-RUNOFF RELATIONSHIP

Streamflow Generation Mechanism

Surface runoff- runoff is generated when the rainfall rate exceeds
the infiltration capacity and then overland flows occur in portions of
the watershed (sometimes run in small rivulets or channels before
reaching the larger streams).

Subsurface flow- some portion of water that infiltrates moves

rapidly downslope through the unsaturated zone to stream channels.
Baseflow- water infiltrates the ground and percolates the saturated
zone, then groundwater flow in the saturated zone discharges into
the stream.
Saturation excess runoff- sometimes runoff is generated when the
water table reaches the ground surface as in the case of spring.
Gaining Stream- baseflow entering stream. Typical in humid
regions. Discharge increases as you go downstream even no
rainfall or tributaries.

Losing Stream- water table lower than the streams water level.
Loss of water occurs as you go downstream. Rate of loss is a
function of the depth of water and hydraulic conductivity of
underlying alluvium.
During baseflow recession, a stream may be gaining but
become a losing stream during floods.

Groundwater pumping near a stream can drop the water table

locally and cause a section of stream to be losing, while it is
gaining up and downstream.

THE WATERSHED
Watershed
Area draining to a stream
Streamflow generated by
rainfall then water entering
surface channels
Affected by
Physical, vegetative, and
climatic features
Geologic considerations
Stream Patterns
Dry periods
Flow sustained from
groundwater (baseflow)

Components of Streamflow

Rational Method
The rational method is the simplest rainfall-runoff formula, which
allows the prediction of peak flow.

Only gives the maximum value of the flood hydrograph and not the
complete runoff hydrograph.
Applicable for estimating storm peak runoff for areas not more than
81 hectares (0.81 km2).
Assumes that the rate of runoff resulting from any rainfall intensity
is maximum when the rainfall intensity lasts as long as the time of
concentration. This assumption limits the size of the watershed that
can be evaluated by the rational method.
Estimates the peak flow in a watershed as a function of the
drainage area, runoff coefficient, and mean rainfall intensity for
duration equal to the time of concentration.

Q ciA
where,

Q = peak discharge in m3/s

c = runoff coefficient
i = rainfall intensity at time of concentration
A = drainage area

Runoff coefficient- represents the fraction of the rainfall converted

to runoff.

 Rainfall intensity- is a function of geographic location and design

exceedence frequency or return interval. The longer the return
interval the greater the precipitation intensity for a given storm
duration. The longer the length of storm, the lower the storm average
precipitation intensity.
The relation between these 3 components, storm duration, storm
intensity and storm return interval is represented by a family of curves
called intensity duration frequency curves. Sometimes approximated
by the following functional form:
where,

a
i
tc b

i = rainfall intensity
tc = time of concentration
a, b = regression coefficients

 Time of concentration- the time required for a parcel of runoff to

travel from the most hydraulically distant part of a watershed to the
outlet. Time basis for the selection of rainfall intensity for application
of the rational method. Approximated by the formula:

0.0195 L0.77
tc
S 0.385
where,
tc = time of concentration (min)
L = length of longest flow path (m)
S = weighted average slope of the basin

Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency Data for Surigao Del Norte

Based on 15 Years of Record
Computed Extreme Values (in mm) of Precipitation
Return
Period

10

15

20

30

45

60

80

100

120

150

12

24

yrs

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

hrs

hrs

hrs

hrs

16.2

24.4

31.9

37.8

47.5

57.8

64.4

73.3

80.5

86.2

93.7

101.5

133.5

165.6

196.1

22.9

34.2

44.7

51.8

64.1

77.9

86.8

99.6

11.2

120.7

132.6

144.5

193.0

242.1

280.5

10

27.3

40.7

53.1

61.1

75.1

91.1

101.6

116.9

131.5

143.6

158.5

173.1

232.4

292.7

336.5

15

29.8

44.4

57.8

66.3

81.4

98.6

109.9

126.7

143.0

156.6

173.0

189.2

254.7

321.2

368.0

25

32.9

49.0

63.7

72.8

89.1

107.9

120.3

138.9

157.2

172.6

191.1

209.1

282.3

356.6

407.1

50

37.0

55.1

71.6

81.4

99.4

120.4

134.2

155.1

176.2

194.0

215.3

235.8

319.2

404.0

459.6

100

41.1

61.1

79.4

90.0

109.7

132.7

148.0

171.3

195.2

215.3

239.3

262.4

355.9

451.1

511.6

Equivalent Average Intensity (in mm/hr) of Computed Extreme Values

Return
Period

10

15

20

30

45

60

80

100

120

150

12

24

yrs

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

mins

hrs

hrs

hrs

hrs

194.4

146.4

127.6

113.4

95.0

77.1

64.4

55.0

48.3

43.1

37.5

33.8

22.3

13.8

8.2

274.8

205.2

178.8

155.4

128.2

103.9

86.8

74.7

6.7

60.4

53.0

48.2

32.2

20.2

11.7

10

327.6

244.2

212.4

183.3

150.2

121.5

101.6

87.7

78.9

71.8

63.4

57.7

38.7

24.4

14.0

15

357.6

266.4

231.2

198.9

162.8

131.5

109.9

95.0

85.8

78.3

69.2

63.1

42.5

26.8

15.3

25

394.8

294.0

254.8

218.4

178.2

143.9

120.3

104.2

94.3

86.3

76.4

69.7

47.1

29.7

17.0

50

444.0

330.6

286.4

244.2

198.8

160.5

134.2

116.3

105.7

97.0

86.1

78.6

53.2

33.7

19.2

100

493.2

366.6

317.6

270.0

219.4

176.9

148.0

128.5

117.1

107.7

95.7

87.5

59.3

37.6

21.3

Rainfall-Duration-Frequency Curves
Surigao, Surigao Del Norte
560.0
480.0

Rainfall (mm)

400.0
320.0
240.0
100-Yr Return Pedriod
50-Yr Return Period

160.0

25-Yr Return Period

80.0
0.0
0

10

12

Time (hrs)

14

16

18

20

22

24