Comparison of acoustic doppler current profiler and Price AA mechanical current meter measurements made during the 2011 Mississippi River Flood

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Abstract

The Mississippi River and Tributaries project performed as designed during the historic 2011 Mississippi River flood, with many of the operational decisions based on discharge targets as opposed to stage. Measurement of discharge at the Tarbert Landing, Mississippi range provides critical information used in operational decisions for the floodways located in Louisiana. Historically, discharge measurements have been made using a Price AA current meter and the mid-section method, and a long record exists based on these types of measurements, including historical peak discharges. Discharge measurements made using an acoustic Doppler current profiler from a moving boat have been incorporated into the record since the mid 1990's, and are used along with the Price AA mid-section measurements. During the 2011 flood event, both methods were used and appeared to provide different results at times. The apparent differences between the measurement techniques are due to complex hydrodynamics at this location that created large spatial and temporal fluctuations in the flow. The data and analysis presented herein show the difference between the two methods to be within the expected accuracy of the measurements when the measurements are made concurrently. The observed fluctuations prevent valid comparisons of data collected sequentially or even with different observation durations.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Comparison of acoustic doppler current profiler and Price AA mechanical current meter measurements made during the 2011 Mississippi River Flood
DOI 10.1061/9780784412312.127
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher American Society of Civil Engineers
Contributing office(s) Office of Surface Water
Description 9 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title World environmental and water resources congress 2012: Crossing boundaries
First page 1260
Last page 1269
Conference Title World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012: Crossing Boundaries
Conference Location Albuquerque, New Mexico
Conference Date May 20-24 2012
Country United States
State Louisiana, Mississippi
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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