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6:20:00 PM 6:00:00 PM
6:40:00 PM 6:10:00 PM
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Assignment 1

7:20:00 PM 6:30:00 PM
7:40:00 PM
8:00:00 PM 6:40:00 PM
Index No.: 6946021

8:20:00 PM 6:50:00 PM
8:40:00 PM 7:00:00 PM
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 A hydrograph for the event

9:40:00 PM 7:20:00 PM
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10:20:00 PM
 Rainfall hyetograph for the event

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10:40:00 PM
7:50:00 PM
11:00:00 PM
11:20:00 PM 8:00:00 PM
11:40:00 PM 8:10:00 PM
12:00:00 AM 8:20:00 PM
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8:30:00 PM
12:40:00 AM
1:00:00 AM 8:40:00 PM
1:20:00 AM

Discharge Against Time

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1:40:00 AM 9:00:00 PM
Rainfall Intensity Against Time

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3:00:00 AM 9:30:00 PM
3:20:00 AM 9:40:00 PM
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4:00:00 AM 9:50:00 PM
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5:00:00 AM
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 The peak discharge is 24.5cms
 The duration is 11 hours
 A hyetograph shows rainfall intensity over time. It indicates when and how heavy the
precipitation was during the event, while a hydrograph displays discharge over time. It
demonstrates how the watershed reacts to rainfall through runoff, lag time, and baseflow.

Assignment 2
 The behaviour of the four different subbasins.

 Subbasin 1
The hyetograph shows a total precipitation of around 2.5mm to 3.0mm. A significant portion of
this is lost (indicated by red bars). This suggests that the subbasin has a high infiltration capacity.
The hydrograph indicates a peak flow of approximately 0.016cms. The rise and fall of the
hydrograph suggest a base time of about 12 hours. Subbasin 1 displays a relatively low peak flow
and a moderate time to peak. The observed precipitation loss implies that the subbasin may have
permeable soil and good vegetative cover, leading to less runoff.

 Subbasin 2
The hyetograph shows that the total precipitation is around 1.6mm to 1.8mm, which is lower than
in subbasin 1. The hydrograph indicates a peak flow of approximately 0.55cms. Subbasin 2
exhibits a significantly higher peak flow compared to Subbasin 1, despite receiving less total
precipitation. This suggests that Subbasin 2 might have fewer permeable surfaces (e.g., more
impervious areas, compacted soils, or less vegetation) or a smaller storage capacity, resulting in a
greater volume of runoff for a given rainfall event.

 Subbasin 3
The hyetograph indicates that the total precipitation for Subbasin 1 is between 2.5 mm and 3.0
mm. The hydrograph shows that the peak flow is approximately 0.012cms, with a base time of
around 12 hours. Subbasin 3 exhibits a peak flow like Subbasin 1, although it is slightly lower.
The time to peak is also comparable for both subbasins. This implies that Subbasin 3 shares similar
characteristics with Subbasin 1 regarding its capacity to absorb rainfall and generate runoff.

 Subbasin 4
The hyetograph indicates that the total precipitation ranges from approximately 2.5 mm to 3 mm.
The hydrograph shows that the peak flow is around 16cms, with a flow base time of roughly 12
hours. Subbasin 4 exhibits the highest peak flow by a significant margin, at 16cms. Although the
precipitation amounts in Subbasins 1 and 3 are similar, the much higher peak flow in Subbasin 4
suggests a very efficient conversion of rainfall to runoff. This strongly implies that Subbasin 4 has
a high percentage of impervious surfaces, very steep slopes, or highly compacted, impermeable
soils.

 Reasons for their different behaviour.

 Area of the Subbasin: A larger subbasin area usually leads to increased runoff and higher peak
flow if other factors are constant.

 Imperviousness: Subbasins with more impervious surfaces, like roads and buildings, produce
greater direct runoff and higher peak flows due to reduced water infiltration. This is especially
noticeable in Subbasin 4 and Subbasin 2 compared to Subbasin 1 and Subbasin 3.

 Soil Type and Infiltration Capacity: Permeable soils increase infiltration and reduce runoff,
while less permeable soils cause more runoff. Subbasins 1 and 3 likely have more permeable
soils than Subbasins 2 and 4.

 Land Use and Vegetation: Dense vegetation can increase interception and evapotranspiration,
reducing runoff. Urbanised areas with less vegetation will have higher runoff.
 Slope and Channel Roughness: Steeper slopes and smoother channels (lower Manning's n) can
lead to faster runoff and a shorter time to peak.

 Basin Shape and Drainage Network: The shape of the basin and the efficiency of its drainage
network influence the concentration of flow and thus the time to peak.
 Parameters used in the model and how they affect the outflow hydrograph.

 Parameters affecting precipitation loss.

The curve number (CN) indicates an area's runoff potential based on soil type, land use, and
moisture conditions. A higher CN leads to less infiltration and more runoff, resulting in increased
peak flow, a shorter time to peak, and a reduced base period. For example, raising the CN for
Subbasin-1 could increase its peak flow from 0.016cms and make the time to peak occur sooner.
This difference is likely important in distinguishing Subbasin-1/3 from Subbasin-2/4.

 Parameters affecting runoff transformation.

Lag Time refers to the time it takes for runoff from the farthest point in a subbasin to reach the
outlet, influenced by the basin's size, shape, slope, and channel characteristics. Longer lag times
result in lower peak flows and broader, flatter hydrographs, while shorter lag times produce higher
peak flows and steeper, more "flashy" hydrographs. The peak flow difference between Subbasin-
2 (0.55cms) and Subbasin-4 (16cms), despite similar precipitation, suggests that Subbasin-4 has a
much shorter time of concentration due to factors like steep slopes and urbanisation. Reducing the
time of concentration for Subbasin-2 by half would significantly raise its peak flow and advance
the time to peak.

 Parameter affecting baseflow.

Baseflow recession constant controls how quickly baseflow recedes after a storm. A larger constant
results in a quicker decline and shorter base time, while a smaller one leads to a slower decline and
longer base time. Although base times appear similar (around 12 hours) in the graphs, adjusting
this parameter will stretch or compress the hydrograph's tail. To observe the effects, increase the
initial Curve Number from 85 to 90, rerun the model, and note the changes in peak flow, time to
peak, and base time.

Assignment 3

1. A plot of CN (on the x-axis) and your choice of error statistic on the y-axis. Write a few lines
on how the error statistic is changing with CN, and what the effect of CN is on the hydrograph.
CN variation: CN 65: NSE = 0.344, CN 70: NSE = 0.506, CN 80: NSE = 0.778, CN 95: NSE = –
0.398.
 CN AGAINST NSE
NASH-SUTCLIFFE EFFICIENCY 0.8

0.6

0.4
(NSE)

0.2

0
65 70 75 80 85 90 95
CURVE NUMBER

CN vs NSE

 NSE improves as CN increases from 65 to 80 (better fit).

 At CN 95, NSE drops negative → too much runoff → bad match.

 Effect: Higher CN increases runoff, raising peak flow — good to a point, but too high CN
overshoots the observed hydrograph.

2. A plot of lag time (on the x-axis) and your choice of error statistic on the y-axis. Write a few
lines on how the error statistic is changing with lag time, and what the effect of lag time is on the
hydrograph.
Lag time variation (CN = 75): Lag 150: NSE = 0.574, Lag 200: NSE = 0.187, Lag 275: NSE = –
0.316

LAG AGAINST NSE

0.7
NASH-SUTCLIFFE EFFICIENCY (NSE)

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
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0.1

0
160 180 200 220 240 260 280
LAG TIME
Lag Time vs NSE (CN = 75):

 Shorter lag (150 min) gives the best NSE, aligns peak flow timing.

 Increasing lag time shifts peak later, worse fit.

 Effect: Lag time controls time to peak. Too long, peak happens too late, mismatch.
3. A plot of calibrated model output and observed hydrograph on the same plot. Report the
final parameter values and corresponding error statistics.

Calibrated Hydrograph:

 Best match here: CN =80, Lag = 150 min; NSE = 0.83; good fit.

 Final parameters: CN = 80, Lag = 150mins.