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Measurement of local bed shear stress in streams using a Preston‐static tube
Author(s) -
Ackerman Josef Daniel,
Hoover Trent M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2001.46.8.2080
Subject(s) - streams , shear stress , river ecosystem , pitot tube , shear (geology) , geotechnical engineering , geology , measure (data warehouse) , stress (linguistics) , mechanics , hydrology (agriculture) , physics , computer science , flow (mathematics) , ecology , ecosystem , petrology , computer network , database , biology , linguistics , philosophy
Local bed shear stress (Τ w ) is a fluid dynamic parameter of importance in determining the physical and biological characteristics of stream‐bed environments. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to measure Τ w under field conditions. Herein we describe the use of a Preston‐static tube, which is essentially a surface‐mounted Pitot‐static tube, to measure Τ w in mountain streams. Our results indicate that it is possible to measure local shear stress quickly, consistently, and inexpensively in the field. This technique also provides high spatial resolution, which should allow for detailed in situ studies of local shear stress at scales relevant to lotic organisms. Such information will be invaluable in studies of benthic organisms and hydraulically relevant phenomena in the near‐bottom zone of lotic systems.