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measuring stream discharge by non‐contact methods: A Proof‐of‐Concept Experiment
Author(s) -
Costa John E.,
Spicer Kurt R.,
Cheng Ralph T.,
Haeni F. Peter,
Melcher Nick B.,
Thurman E. Michael,
Plant William J.,
Keller William C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl006087
Subject(s) - current meter , acoustic doppler current profiler , channel (broadcasting) , current (fluid) , geology , metre , turbulence , radar , doppler effect , discharge , acoustics , remote sensing , meteorology , telecommunications , physics , drainage basin , computer science , oceanography , astronomy , cartography , geography
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.