Basics of Hydrology

and
Terminology Used in WRIS

K H V Durga Rao
Scientist/Engineer ‘SF’
Water Resources Division
National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO
Hyderabad
durgarao_khv@nrsc.gov.in
Precipitation

•Forms of Precipitation (rain, snow, drizzle, etc.)

•Measurement of Rainfall
•Quantification of Rainfall
Average method
Thiessen Polygon Method
Iso-hyetal Methos
•Intensity of rainfall (mm/hour)
•Hyetograph
Characteristics of Precipitation

• Duration - Measured in units of minutes or hours

• Depth - Measured in units if mm or inches

• Intensity - Measured in units of mm/hr or inch/hr

• Storm Frequency– Describe the probability of occurrence

• Infiltration
• Evaporation
Transpiration
Potential Evapotranspiration
Actual Evapotranspiration
• Groundwater Recharge
• Runoff
Measurement of runoff
Hydrograph
 Watershed

- Area of the land which drains to a common outlet

Characteristics of the watershed

Size
Shape
Slope
Length
Roughness
etc.
Watershed Classification in India

Region
Basin
Sub-basin
Watershed
Sub-watershed
Micro watershed
Drainage

Stream Ordering
 Terminology
Associated with gauge sites

Gauge level (m)

Discharge (cumecs/cusecs)
FF
quality
AWS
Volume (MCM, km3, etc)
Area (Sq.km)
Mannings ‘N’
Slope (% or degrees or m/km)
Danger Level (m)
Warning Level (m)
Associated with Projects

MW (megawatt)
Design Flood (cumecs)
Peak Flood (cumecs)
FRL (m)
Height of the Dam
Free board
MWL (maximum water level, m)
Return Period Flood
PMF (Probable maximum flood)
Associated with Projects

Single Purpose Project

Multi-purpose project
Spillway
Dam
Barrage
Embankments
gates
Penstocks
Turbines
Lift Schemes
Runoff River Plant
Diversion Structure
Associated with Irrigation

Command Area
Main canal
Branch canal
Distributary
Minor and Sub-minor
CCA
GCA
Irrigation Intensity (cultivated area/CCA)
IP
Cross Drainage Structure
Aqueduct
Super Passage