Hydrology I

Jozsef Szilagyi, Professor of Hydrology

Department of Hydraulic and Water
Resources Engineering
Budapest University of Technology and
Economics

Lecture #8: Determination of the watershed unit-pulse

response function and runoff components separation
Watershed runoff response to a constant
intensity rain of infinite duration is proportional to
the runoff contributing area, A(t), through time.
The time of concentration (Tc) is the time-interval
required for the water to travel from the most
remote part of the watershed to the outlet
(design point). By this time the entire watershed
delivers water to the outlet. The A(t)/A(Tc)
function is the unit-step response, g(t), of the
watershed. An isochrone connects those points
of the catchment that are separated from the
outlet by the same travel time (t). t is
proportional
to L / S1/2, where L is path-length of the raindrop,
S is path slope. [Chezy: v ~ CS1/2, t=L/v]. With
discrete data one must determine the UPR
[u(t)=g(t)-g(t-t)].

Watershed

Tc=10h
9h

Isochrones
A3

3h

A2

2h

A1

1h

A(t)/Ac
1

A(Tc)=Ac

Tc
g(t)-g(t-t)
t

The UPR ordinates, u(t), can be plotted

Watershed response to precipitation
can now be obtained by the discrete
convolution:
Q(it)=ij=1Pe(jt)u[(i-j+1)t]
where Pe is the effective precipitation
(the part of the precipitation that
contributes to runoff).
This approach can be best used on
small watersheds (A<10 km2).
The only parameter needed to be
estimated is Tc. There are several
empirical equations for it.
Linearity (if such exists) can be best
expected between Pe and Qq, i.e.,
the quick storm response.
How to separate Pe and Qq from the
observed precipitation and flow?

u(t)

The -index method: Pe=P-,

where the constant value
must be chosen so that
V(Pe)=V(Qq) (i.e. the two
volumes must be equal).
Runoff component separation:
runoff
surface subsurface baseflow
(interflow) (gw contr.)
quick-storm delayed-storm
response
All existing base-flow separation
methods are empirical only.
Fixed-base method:
Nd=0.82A

Q
Qq(t)=Q(t)-Qb(t),
Qp
Nd

0.2

where A is the watershed area in km2, Nd is

the watershed-specific time delay in
days.

Pe

Assumed baseflow
(Qb)

t(Qp)

Automation of the fixed-base graphical separation method:

Digital filter algorithm
Qb(i)=pQb(i-1)+0.5(1-p)[Q(i)+Q(i-1)]
If

Qb(i) > Q(i) Qb(i) = Q(i)

The filter parameter, p (0.85-0.99), must be chosen so that the resulting

Nd be close to that of the fixed-base method!
HW#1: Apply the the digital filter on a watershed of your choice with
different p values and show the measured flow and estimated
baseflow time-series.
Lab#6: Estimate the unit-pulse response function of Karola Creek and
calculate the runoff over the 1-6 h interval for Pe values of 5, 2, 1
mm/h.

Elevation (m) above mean sea level