Tandan et al, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN2249–8974

Research Paper
RAINFALL-RUNOFF RELATIONSHIPS USING CURVE
NUMBER METHOD: A CASE STUDY
P.N.Tandon1 P.T. Nimbalkar2

Address for Correspondence

1
PG Student, 2Professor, Dept. of Civil Engg. Bharati Vidyapeeth University College of Engg,
Pune-400709, India
ABSTRACT
The rainfall runoff is one of the most frequently used events in hydrology. Numerous methods have been developed by
different researchers to simulate the rainfall runoff process. Firstly, a relationship between direct runoff and the mean a real
rainfall was developed and validated using statistical model. Understanding the basic relationships between rainfall, runoff
and soil loss are studied for effective management and utilization of water resources and soil conservation planning. Curve
Number (CN) method is also a widely used method for estimating infiltration characteristics of the watershed, based on the
land use property and soil property.
In this paper, five methods of rainfall runoff relationship has been studied for the Morbe dam catchment watershed apart
from which suggested to use curve number method or Inglis method by changing factor used. The rainfall and runoff data
ranging from year 1958 to 2011 had been utilized for detail analysis. This study investigated the response of stream flow to
rainfall on gauged, small watersheds of the Morbe dam watershed project using methods to estimate runoff. Even calibrated
curve numbers contain large uncertainties, thus requiring statistical proof that estimated runoff adequately agrees with
observations. Estimation of the runoff is required in order to determine and forecast its effects.
1.0 INTRODUCTION 2. Obtain the related rainfall, runoff and water level
Stream flow generation data from the department of Morbe Dam project,
The term runoff takes place when some part of the Navi Mumbai.
landscape is impervious. There are two runoff 3. Evaluate the direct runoff of selected catchment
concepts: watershed, whereby empirical analysis is used to
1. Infiltration-Excess and make comparison and verify the results.
2. Saturation-excess runoff. Objective of Present Study
In the infiltration-excess runoff consider that, overland The objective of project is “To study rainfall-runoff
flow occurs when the infiltration rate at the surface relationships for small, Mountainous, forested
soil is less than the rainfall intensity. The water, in watersheds at Morbe Dam catchment watershed.
desirable of which that gradually pass in the soil 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW:
surface, flows on the soil surface to nearby channel Simple rainfall-runoff models, are most widely used
The rain, fall on the landscape with a large force or so that we can use that information in land-use
amount, with the greater than the dynamic decision making. In the world different hydrologic
permeability of the surface soil. The time duration of models are available, with the different purpose and
rainfall must be greater than the time required to complexity. Many researchers are performing various
impervious the surface. Infiltration excess runoff experiments in this field. Hydrological model is one
happens less frequently except from 1] Clay of the models used for study and analyzing the
dominated surface soils , 2]watersheds where bedrock impact of land-use changes and to provide brief
surfaces are exposed, 3] Urban impervious surfaces 4] information.
Disturbed or poorly vegetated areas that many times As stated in [10], the hydrology has some parameter
have a sub humid or semiarid. estimation using is necessary to solve the equations
Curve Number Method for the complicated flows which may occur at the
The curve number method is famous method and time of rainfall Hydrological model is the first
because of its simplicity, convenience, and tradition, physically based model developed to solve the
frequently used to estimate runoff resulting from Richard’s equation which is use to understand the
event rainfall. The curve number is depending on the unsaturated flow into 2D to represent Hill Slope
soil type, effects of land use and cover, hydrologic Processes. The mathematical approximation of the
condition. The curve number method is the object of real phenomenon derived from the first principle.
both support and criticism. The major drawbacks of There are currently two approaches to rainfall-runoff
the method are as follows: modeling
• Sensitivity of the method to curve number values, 1. The conceptual Lumped-Parameter Model and
• Fixing the initial abstraction ratio and 2. The spatially Disturbed Model.
• Lack of clear guidance on how to vary antecedent The parameters required to show the relationship
Moisture condition (AMC). between rainfall volume to a runoff estimate, the
The curve number method is the shows the curve number (CN) is a lumped composite of all
relationship between the retention i.e rainfall not assumptions used to derive the rainfall runoff
converted runoff and runoff properties of the relationship. As stated in [5] that, the Curve Number
watershed and the rainfall. Method is the most accurate method and it also
Scope of the work identify some threats. The shape, timing and
The following work has done to achieve the magnitude of the simulated hydrograph at the timing
objectives of the project. of rising and falling periods of each storm event are
1. Study and Review of literature on rainfall-runoff regenerated by the hydrological model. The
modeling and to achieve a reliable. rainfall- relationship between curve number and TOPMODEL
runoff relationship for Morbe dam catchment topographic index for a given watershed can give the
watershed useful procedure for better estimating runoff. The
Int. J. Adv. Engg. Res. Studies/IV/I/Oct.-Dec,2014/73-77
 Tandan et al, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies
result of Curve Number Method, useful in accuracy
in estimating the runoff volume from forested
watershed.
The soil conservation service(SCS), now known as
the Natural Resource Conservation Service(NRCS),
stated a consistent rainfall-runoff relationship as the
provisions of the small watershed act, PL-566 by
using only available data. In [4] it is stated that, the
most available rainfall-runoff relationships in 1954
were for gagged watersheds. The Soil Conversation
Service stated in [4] shows the common relationship
between rainfall and runoff. The nonlinear rainfall-
runoff relationship get started after some water has
initially consumed and different ways stated that the
theoretically event rainfall volume of any event is
equivalent to the maximum runoff volume.
3.0 METHOD FOR RAINFALL-RUNOFF
RELATIONSHIP
3.1 Procedure
For the required data, we have to develop a survey
instrument so, by using that instrument we can collect
the necessary information regarding Morbe Project.
The procedure required developing survey analysis
and various tests required to check correctness is
given below.
• Identification of Critical Factors for rainfall-
runoff relationships for small, mountainous,
forested watersheds.
• Data Collection for Morbe project.
• To Check Statistical Measures.
The above mentioned steps are explained in detail as
follows.
3.2 Identification of Critical Factors:
Identification of Critical Factors for rainfall-runoff
relationships for small, mountainous, forested
watersheds.
Five methods of hydrologic analysis are described:
1. Rational Method;
2. Colorado Urban Hydrograph Procedure (CUHP)
3. Inglis method,
4. Curve no. method and
5. Statistical analyses.
3.3 WATERSHED SIZE LIMITS
The rainfall-runoff data used in the development of
the current version of CUHP is found from small
watersheds and the ranged between 0.15mi2 to 3.08
mi2. Unlimited extrapolation of how the watershed to
be analyzed with a single unit hydrograph is limited
to 5mi2. For a larger watershed needs to be observed,
it must be subdivided into sub-watersheds of 5 mi2or
less.
3.4 WATERSHED SLOP LIMITS AND
CONSIDERATIONS
The rational method is basically used for smaller
catchment when only the peak flow rate or the total
volume of runoff is needed. CUHP is used for larger
catchments and also when a hydrograph of the storm
event is needed.
Summary of Applicability for Rational Method
and CUHP
Int. J. Adv. Engg. Res. Studies/IV/I/Oct.-Dec,2014/73-77
E-ISSN2249–8974
An applicability of both methods is given in above
table.
For Morbe dam catchment area is 5700 Hectors
so, the Rational and CUHP Method is not
Applicable for present case study.
3.5 INGLIS METHOD
The result of careful stream gauging in 53 sites in
western India, Inglis and DeSouza (1929) evolved
two regional formulae between annual runoff R and
annual rainfall P in cms as follows;-
1. For Deccan plateau
R=1/254 P (P-17.8)
2. For Ghat regions of western India
R= 0.85 P-30.5
This formula is achieved from Maharashtra rivers
watershed which is applied for fan-shape watersheds
of Bombay state.
Q= 124 A / √A+10.4
Where,
Q= Flood peak flow rate
A= Area of watershed in km2
To Calculate Runoff for Morbe Dam Project, The
INGLIS Method is used.
Qe= 0.7356 P- 12
Where,
Qe= Estimated runoff in cms
P= Rainfall in inch
The results obtained from the above empirical
formula are shown in Appendix: 3, In which it is
shown that there is a huge difference between
estimated and observed runoff, So INGLIS
method is not suitable for the present case study.
To use INGLIS method for Morbe Dam
catchment watershed area we have to do some
changes in the empirical formula as:
Qe= 0.2896 P- 12
3.6 CURVE NUMBER METHOD
The Curve Number Method was developed by the
Soil Conservation Service in 1964; since it has been
adapted to conditions in other regions of the world.,
the basic concept is widely used all over the world.
The review of literature survey conducted on critical
factors state that various authors and by closely
examining, there seems to be a set of common critical
success factors of rainfall-runoff relationships for
small, mountainous, forested watersheds.
The following are the set of critical factors of
rainfall-runoff relationships
• Observed Runoff in Cms (Qo)
• Watershed Initial Abstraction/Infiltration (Ia)
• Typical Event Retention of Water (F)
• Total Monsoon in Cms (P)
• Estimated Runoff in Cms (Qe)
P= Ia + F + Qe
Initial Abstraction= The initial accumulation of
rainfall shows the interception, depression storage,
and infiltration.
Actual Retention = After runoff has been started,
some additional rainfall is lost, mainly in the form of
infiltration.
Derivation of Empirical Relationships
The Curve Number Method is mainly based on two
phenomena. The Initial Abstraction and Actual
Retention. In mathematic form, SCS is the ratio of
actual retention to potential maximum retention
In mathematical form, the empirical relationships
is
 Tandan et al, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies
The ratio of actual amount of direct runoff (Qe) to
maximum potential runoff (P-Ia) is same as the ratio
of actual infiltration (F) to the potential maximum
retention (infiltration) S.
Where,
S= potential max. Retention in mm
The formula shows some specific values of the
potential maximum retention and initial abstraction.
After runoff has got started, all additional rainfall
becomes either runoff or actual retention.
P= Ia + F + Qe
Fig.1 below shows the major catchment area of villages.
4.1 Curve Number
The NRCS curve number includes soil type, soil
infiltration capability, land use and the depth of the
seasonal high water table. To account for different
Int. J. Adv. Engg. Res. Studies/IV/I/Oct.-Dec,2014/73-77
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The potential max. retention S has been converted to
the Curve Number CN in order to make the
operations of interpolating, averaging, and weighting
more nearly linear.
This relationship is-
CN= 25400 / 254+S -------------(a)
Where the S is potential maximum retention can vary
between zero and infinity. Equation (a) shows that
the Curve Number CN can range from 100 to 0. The
runoff depth values (Q) as a function of rainfall depth
(P) for selected values of Curve Numbers. For highly
permeable, flat-lying soils, S will reach to the infinity
and CN will 0 and all rainfall will infiltrate and there
will be no runoff. In drainage basins, the reality will
be somewhere in between.
4.0 Location of Morbe dam (case study)
Dam is constructed across the Dhavri and Tributary of
Patalganga River. The following are the villages in
catchment area.
soils’ ability to infiltrate, NRCS has divided soils into
four hydrologic soil groups (HSGs). They are defined
as follows:
• HSG Group A: Soils with high infiltration
 Tandan et al, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies
rates even when thoroughly wetted. These
consist chiefly of deep, well-drained sands and
gravels. These soils have a high rate of water
transmission.
• HSG Group B: Soils with moderate
infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted. These
consist chiefly of soils that are moderately deep
to deep, moderately well drained to well drain
with moderately fine to moderately course
textures. These soils have a moderate rate of
water transmission (final infiltration rate of
0.15 to 0.30 in. /h).
• HSG Group C: Soils with slow infiltration
rates when thoroughly wetted. These consist
chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes
downward movement of water or soils with
Table: Runoff Curve Numbers for (AMC II) for the Indian Condition
In our studyas the curve number obtained in
our study ranges from 16.162 to 42.409 which
indicates the good condition
Runoff volume from total Rainfall
A relation between the total average rainfall and
average runoff actually observed is shown in the table
below.
Table: Relation between the total average rainfall
and average runoff
According to Strange's table as the percentage is
not exceeding than 8.29%, the catchment is good.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Five methods of hydrologic analysis are described in
the report from which curve number method shows
the closer results of estimated runoff values to
observed runoff.
In this study, we examine the impact of two
categories of factor watershed initial abstraction (Ia)
typical event retention of water (F) to effect on
estimated runoff performance. We observe that these
Int. J. Adv. Engg. Res. Studies/IV/I/Oct.-Dec,2014/73-77
E-ISSN2249–8974
moderately fine to fine textures. These soils
have a slow rate of water transmission (final
infiltration rate 0.05 to 0.15 in./h).
• HSG Group D: Soils with very slow
infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted. These
consist chiefly of clay soils with a high
swelling potential, soils with a permanent high
water table, soils with a clay pan or clay layer
at or near the surface, and shallow soils over
nearly impervious materials. These soils have a
very slow rate of water transmission (final
infiltration rate less than 0.05 in. /h). The table
below represents curve numbers for antecedent
soil moisture condition II (Average moisture
condition).
variables are associated in theoretically consistent
ways with estimated runoff. Rainfall has become
increasingly critical priority, runoff estimation, as an
indicator of effectiveness of rainfall, deserves much
greater attention via empirical research due to the
important role it plays as a strategic outcome. From
the statistical analysis it has become concluded that
mean of estimated runoff is closer to mean of
observe runoff, as well as by comparing data and
means of estimated runoff and observed runoff the
histogram show is closely similar.
CONCLUSION
This study the development and testing of a simple
calibration approach based on observe direct runoff
values derived from scheme-gauge data available
from the Morbe dam project department. This will
enable those users interested in results that are close
to the observed values to use calibrated predictions.
This calibration approach could be used for other
rainfall runoff models. The curve number model
predictions are found to be lower than actual observe
direct runoff for the watershed.
The initial abstraction represents all losses before
runoff begins, and includes Water retained in surface
depression, water taken up by vegetation,
evaporation, and infiltration. This was based on
several studies of small watershed, by determining
 Tandan et al, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN2249–8974

the best-fit relationship between potential maximum

storage and initial abstraction. However, the
regression plot of this best fit shows a large scatter,
reflecting a large variation because of the inherent
variability of soil infiltration and land-surface
characteristics. The CN method of estimating runoff
volumes from rainfall is simple and easy to use. It
works well for wide range of agriculture soil cover
complexes.
For selected watershed considered for analysis, the
predicted runoff was not significantly different than
measured runoff, based on the T-test results.
6.1 Future Scope
This study is based upon available data project
department. Therefore, there is several directions for
future research. First, future studies should replicate
our findings and examine the remaining variables
suggested in the conceptual literature. Second, the
study can be extended to multiple runoff models to
understand differences in estimated runoff and
observed runoff. Third, the study can be extended to
different watersheds at different places.
REFERENCES:
1. Badreldin G. H., Hassan, Feng Ping, 2012. “Regional
Rainfall Frequency Analysis for the Luanhe Basin by
Using L-moments and Cluster Techniques”. ICESD
2012: 5-7, Hong Kong. Pp.126 – 135.
2. Bernard A. Engel, Jin-Yong Choi, Jon Harbor, Shilpam
Pandey, 2003. “Web-based DSS for hydrologic impact
evaluation of small watershed land use changes”,
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 39, Pp.241-
249.
3. Beven, K. J. 1983. Surface water hydrology-runoff
generation and basin structure. Reviews of Geophysics
21(3): 721-730.
4. Beven, K. J. and M. J. Kirkby. 1979. A physically-
based, variable contributing area model of basin
hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Journal 24: 43-69.
5. Bhaduri B. 1998. A geographic information system
based model for assessing long-term impact of land use
change on nonpoint source pollution at a watershed
scale. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
6. K Subramanya, Engineering Hydrology. Tata McGraw-
Hill Education, Jan 1, 1994 - Hydrology - 392 pages.

Int. J. Adv. Engg. Res. Studies/IV/I/Oct.-Dec,2014/73-77