Precipitation

CTP Review
June 23, 2012

Precipitation
Single strongest variable driving
hydrologic processes
Formed water vapor in the atmosphere
As air cools its ability to hold water
decreases and some turns to liquid or icei.e. glass condensation (Figure 2.1)

Air Saturation

Weather Patterns
Weather (day to day) vs. climate (yearsdecades and patterns)
What are hydrologists most concerned
with?
Climate and geography result in biome
classification

Biomes and Rainfall

Figure 2.2

Causes of Precipitation

Measurement of Precipitation

Terminology (2.3)
Types of devices (2.4.2)
Snowfall conversions (2.4.1)
Location of devices (2.4)
Interpretation of data (2.3.3, 2.6)

Rainfall Terminology

Type-hail, rain, snow, sleet

Depth
Storm Duration
Average rate of precipitation-Intensity
Return Period or Recurrence Interval

Types of Rain Gages

Snow Measurement
Determine the water equivalent
5%-60% of snow depth may be water
equivalent-- density
Snow pillows use antifreeze solution and
pressure measurement to measure water
equivalent

Location of Gages
Gauges measure point rainfall
True precipitation unaffected by
surroundings-winds, trees, buildings
Clearance distance 2 times height of object
For large areas multiple gauges are needed
for more accurate estimates

Table 2.3
Size of Watershed
Acres
40
100
600
Square Miles
5
10
100
300

Number of Gage Sites

2
3
4

10
15
50
100

Rain Gage Density & Error

Interpretation of Data
Time distributions
Area distributions
Using point data to find average rainfall
Thiessen method

Storm Patterns (Histograms)

Figure 2.14

Thiessen Method for Average Rain

Step 1

Thiessen Method for Average Rain

Step 2

Thiessen Method for Average Rain

Step 3

Thiessen Method for Average Rain

Step 4

Prediction-Frequency
Distributions
To plan and design projects must be able
to predict probability of rainfall events
Duration, Intensity, Return Period
Often must estimate Return Periods
Use Hazen method to develop intensityduration-frequency curve (Example 2.5).

Table 2.6
Annual Precip. for LA, CA 1934-1953
Year Depth (in) Rank Depth (in) Year
1934
14.6
1
32.8 1941
1935
21.7
2
26.2 1952
1936
12.1
3
23.4 1938
1937
22.4
4
22.4 1937
1938
23.4
5
21.7 1935
1939
13.1 You6have determined
19.2 1940 that
1940
19.2 more
7 than 23.4
19.2 1944
of
annual
1941
32.8
8
18.2 1943
will14.6
result
in a net
1942
11.2 rainfall
9
1934
1943
18.2 Economic
10
13.1for
1939
loss
your
1944
19.2
11
12.7 1947
1945
11.6 crop.
12
12.1 1936
1946
11.6 Now,
13 you need
11.6to1945
predict
1947
12.7
14
11.6 1946
1948
7.2 How
15 often this
11.2will
1942occur.
1949
8
16
10.6 1950
1950
10.6
17
9.5 1953
1951
8.2
18
8.2 1951
1952
26.2
19
8 1949
1953
9.5
20
7.2 1948

Table 2.6
Annual Precip. for LA, CA 1934-1953
Year Depth (in) Rank Depth (in) Year
1934
14.6
1
32.8 1941
1935
21.7
2
26.2 1952
1936
12.1
3
23.4 1938
1937
22.4
4
22.4 1937
1938
23.4
5
21.7 1935
1939
13.1
6
19.2 1940
1940
19.2
7
19.2 1944
1941
32.8
8
18.2 1943
1942
11.2
9
14.6 1934
1943
18.2
10
13.1 1939
1944
19.2
11
12.7 1947
1945
11.6
12
12.1 1936
1946
11.6
13
11.6 1945
1947
12.7
14
11.6 1946
1948
7.2
15
11.2 1942
1949
8
16
10.6 1950
1950
10.6
17
9.5 1953
1951
8.2
18
8.2 1951
1952
26.2
19
8 1949
1953
9.5
20
7.2 1948

Equation 2.2, page 46

Probability of Occurrence, Fa (%)=

100 (2n-1)
2y

n = the rank of each event

y = the total number of events

For Example:
Year 1938--23.4 in--Rank #3
100 (2*3-1)
2*20

= 12.5

Table 2.6
Annual Precip. for LA, CA 1934-1953
Year Depth (in) Rank Depth (in) Year Prob. F
1934
14.6
1
32.8 1941
2.5
1935
21.7
2
26.2 1952
7.5
1936
12.1
3
23.4 1938
12.5
1937
22.4
4
22.4 1937
17.5
1938
23.4
5
21.7 1935
22.5
1939
13.1
6
19.2 1940
27.5
1940
19.2
7
19.2 1944
32.5
1941
32.8
8
18.2 1943
37.5
1942
11.2
9
14.6 1934
42.5
1943
18.2
10
13.1 1939
47.5
1944
19.2
11
12.7 1947
52.5
1945
11.6
12
12.1 1936
57.5
1946
11.6
13
11.6 1945
62.5
1947
12.7
14
11.6 1946
67.5
1948
7.2
15
11.2 1942
72.5
1949
8
16
10.6 1950
77.5
1950
10.6
17
9.5 1953
82.5
1951
8.2
18
8.2 1951
87.5
1952
26.2
19
8 1949
92.5
1953
9.5
20
7.2 1948
97.5

Return Period=

100
Fa

Fa= probability of occurrence (%)

For Example:
Year 1938-- Fa= 12.5
100 = 8 yrs
12.5

Table 2.6
Annual Precip. for LA, CA 1934-1953
Year Depth (in) Rank Depth (in) Year Prob. F
1934
14.6
1
32.8 1941
2.5
1935
21.7
2
26.2 1952
7.5
1936
12.1
3
23.4 1938
12.5
1937
22.4
4
22.4 1937
17.5
1938
23.4
5
21.7 1935
22.5
1939
13.1
6
19.2 1940
27.5
1940
19.2
7
19.2 1944
32.5
1941
32.8
8
18.2 1943
37.5
1942
11.2
9
14.6 1934
42.5
1943
18.2
10
13.1 1939
47.5
1944
19.2
11
12.7 1947
52.5
1945
11.6
12
12.1 1936
57.5
1946
11.6
13
11.6 1945
62.5
1947
12.7
14
11.6 1946
67.5
1948
7.2
15
11.2 1942
72.5
1949
8
16
10.6 1950
77.5
1950
10.6
17
9.5 1953
82.5
1951
8.2
18
8.2 1951
87.5
1952
26.2
19
8 1949
92.5
1953
9.5
20
7.2 1948
97.5

Return Period
40.0
13.3
8.0
5.7
4.4
3.6
3.1
2.7
2.4
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.0

Frequency-Magnitude Graph

Predict probability of a given return period

storm occurring within a given number of years
What is the probability that the 8-year event will
happen in LA within the next 5 years? Or, what
The probability of an economic loss due to reduced
Harvest in the next 5 years?
equation 2.4, page 47

n
P(T,n) = 1 - ( 1 - 1
)
T
5
(49%) 0.49= 1 - ( 1 - 1
)
8

Rainfall Rate-Duration-Frequency
Figure 2.19

Rainfall Rate-Duration-Frequency

Prediction
by Month

Figure 2.20