Streamflow
Topics to be covered:
-Measurement of stage and discharge
-Stage-discharge relationship
- Planning of stream flow network
-
Streamflow and river stage
Importance of streamflow and river stage:
-Quantification of river flow is necessary for various purposes (peak flow for flood
estimation and structural design, low flow and duration of flow for water supply)
-streamflow/river flow/discharge
- River stage (or water level) and water depth
-
Flow gauge or gauge station:
Selection of site to install a gauge:
• Straight reach of river
• Stable cross section
• Stable downstream hydraulic control
• Site should be accessible in all the seasons even in rainy season
Site selection for ratine curve
• Section should be straight and uniform for a length of 10-20 times the width
• The bed and bank of the river should be stable
• Bed and bank should be free from vegetal growth, boulders
• There should be no larger overflow section
• Good control section
• Any site just above the confluence should be avoided to avoid backwater effects
• Gauge should be easily accessible
Measuring River stage
1. Staff gauge/gage
2. Suspended weight gage
Sectional staff gauge
Inclined staff gauge
Measuring River stage
Another type gauge is
Recording gage
1. Float gage recorder
2. Bubble gage
3. Sensor based pressure transducer
Storing of recorded data:
1. Chart or punched tape
2. Data logger for sensor based
gauges Figure. Pressure Transducer
Use of Telemetry for data transmission
1. Radio technology for short-distance data transfer
2. Internet and cellular technologies for long distance data
transfer
Advantages of using telemetry:
• Accessing remote area
• Consistency and reliable
Measurement of velocity
There are several techniques/methods of river water velocity measurement
1. Current meter (vertical axis type and horizontal axis type)
2. Float method
3. Moving boat method
4. Ultrasonic method
5. Electromagnetic method
Current meter Measurement of velocity
Vertical axis current meter has the
following disadvantages:
# If stream has vertical velocity
component then the instrument gives
erroneous results
Vertical axis type
Current meter Measurement of velocity
Horizontal axis current meter has the
following disadvantages:
# If stream has vertical velocity
component then the instrument gives
erroneous results
Horizontal axis type
Current meter Measurement of velocity
Velocity calculation with a current meter:
V = aN + b
Where N is the revolutions per unit time (sec/min)
Current meter Measurement of velocity
Calibration of a current meter:
V = aN + b
Where N is the revolutions per
unit time (sec/min)
Current meter Measurement of velocity
Shallow river:
> velocity is measured at 0.6 times the depth of flow
Moderately deep river:
➢ at two depths 0.2 and 0.8 times the depth of flow; and then average
Deep river:
> surface velocity (vs)
v = K*vs
K: 0.85 – 0.95
Moving boat method Measurement of velocity
For
Float method Measurement of velocity
For float method:
𝑣 = 0.85 ∗ 𝑣𝑠
Where, 𝑣𝑠 is the surface velocity
Ultrasonic method Measurement of velocity
➢ Velocity of sound in water is used to measure water velocity in a river
Advantages:
* rapid and high accuracy
* suitable for automatic recording
* can be used for high variable flow conditions
Following factors affect its accuracy:
* unstable cross section
* fluctuating weed growth
* suspended sediments
* air entrainment
* salinity and temperature change
Discharge measurement
i) Area-velocity method
ii) Moving boat method
iii) Dilution technique or Tracer method
iv) Stage-discharge relationship curve i.e. Rating curve (Indirect method)
Area-velocity method Discharge measurement
Two methods
(i) Mid-section method
(ii) Mean section method
Moving boat method Discharge measurement
This method is suitable for large river
Dilution/tracer method Discharge measurement
This method suitable for small rivers
-flow should be steady
Required properties of tracers:
- Should not be chemically reactive with water or channel boundary
- Should not absorbed by sediment, channel boundary and vegetation
- Should be non-toxic
- Should be detectable
- Should not be very expensive
Structure method Discharge measurement
-Notches, weirs, flumes etc
Rating curve Discharge measurement
• Stage-discharge relationship at a particular
section of a river is called rating curve
Rating curve should be updated periodically if the
following happens:
-changing river characteristics due to vegetation
and encroachment
- aggradation or degradation
- backwater effect
Rating curve generation Discharge measurement
Two ways
1. Graphical method
2. Mathematical method (curve fitting with
optimization technique)
Determining H0 Discharge measurement
Trial and error to fit straight line:
• Plotting on Log-log graph paper for different H0
values until a best straight line is found
Trial and error with Optimization to fit best curve:
Adjusting Rating Curve for Backwater effect
*
Hydrologic year Discharge measurement
•
Area-velocity method Discharge measurement
Example from Raghunath 6.1 (p-190)
Area-velocity method Discharge measurement
Example from Raghunath 6.1 (p-190)
