Measuring stream discharge by non-contact methods: A proof-of-concept experiment
Geophysical Research Letters
By: J. E. Costa, K.R. Spicer, R. T. Cheng, F. P. Haeni, N.B. Melcher, E. M. Thurman, W.J. Plant, and W.C. Keller
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Abstract
This report describes an experiment to make a completely non-contact open-channel discharge measurement. A van-mounted, pulsed doppler (10GHz) radar collected surface-velocity data across the 183-m wide Skagit River, Washington at a USGS streamgaging station using Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Surface velocities were converted to mean velocities for 25 sub-sections by assuming a normal open-channel velocity profile (surface velocity times 0.85). Channel cross-sectional area was measured using a 100 MHz ground-penetrating radar antenna suspended from a cableway car over the river. Seven acoustic doppler current profiler discharge measurements and a conventional current-meter discharge measurement were also made. Three non-contact discharge measurements completed in about a 1-hour period were within 1 % of the gaging station rating curve discharge values. With further refinements, it is thought that open-channel flow can be measured reliably by non-contact methods.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Measuring stream discharge by non-contact methods: A proof-of-concept experiment |
| Series title | Geophysical Research Letters |
| DOI | 10.1029/1999GL006087 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2000 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | AGU |
| Contributing office(s) | Office of Ground Water, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 4 p. |
| First page | 553 |
| Last page | 556 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |