STREAMFLOW

MEASUREMENT:
STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATIONSHIP
PREPARED BY: ENGR. NESLYN E. LOPEZ

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATIONSHIP

As indicated earlier the measurement of discharge by the

direct method involves of a two step procedure:

1.

Development of the stage-discharge relationship

2.

Routine operation

It is also known as the rating curve.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATIONSHIP

The measured value of discharges when plotted against the

corresponding stages gives relationship that represents the
integrated effect of a wide range of channel and flow
parameters.

Control - combined effect of parameters.

Permanent - a control for the ( ) relationship for a

gauging section is constant and does not change with time

Shifting time - control if it changes with time.

PERMANENT CONTROL

A majority of streams and rivers, especially non-alluvial

rivers exhibit permanent control.

For such a case, the relationship between the stage and the
discharge is a single-valued relation which is expressed as

Eq.4.26

Where:
= stream discharge
= gauge height (stage)
= a constant which represent the gauge reading corresponding to
zero discharge
and = rating curve constants

PERMANENT CONTROL

The relationship can be expressed graphically by plotting

the observed relative stage
against the
corresponding discharge values in an arithmetic or
logarithmic plot.

PERMANENT CONTROL

Logarithmic plotting is advantageous as Eq.4.26 plots as

straight line in logarithmic coordinates.

The straight line is drawn to best represent the data. Coefficients and
need not to be the same for the full range of stages.

PERMANENT CONTROL

The best value of and in Eq.4.26 for a given range of

stage are obtained by the least-square-error method. Thus
by taking logarithms,

= +
or

= +

Eq.4.27

Eq.4.27(a)

In which the dependent variable = , independent

variable = .

PERMANENT CONTROL

For the best-fit straight line of observations of and , by

regressing = on = .

and

Eq.4.28a

Eq.4.28b

Pearson product moment correlation coefficient

Eq.4.29

PERMANENT CONTROL

Here reflects the extent of linear relationship between the

two data sets.

For a perfect correlation, = 1.0.

If is between 0.6 and 1.0 is generally taken as a good

correlation.

It should be noted that in the present case as the discharge

increases with the variable and are positively
correlated and hence is positive.

PERMANENT CONTROL

Eq.4.26 is called the rating

equation of the stream and can
be used for estimating the
discharge of the stream for a
given gauge reading within
range of data used in its
derivation.

Eq.4.26

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

In Eq.4.26 the constant representing the stage (gauge

height) for zero discharge in the stream is hypothetical
parameter and cannot be measured in the field.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

The following alternative methods are available for its

determination:
1. Plot vs on an arithmetic graph paper and draw a
best-fit curve. By extrapolating the curve by eye
judgment find as the value of corresponding to =0.
using the value of , plot vs and verify
whether the data plots as a straight line. If not, select
another value in the neighborhood of previously
assumed value and by trial and error find an acceptable
value of which gives a straight line plot of vs
.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

2.

A graphical method due to Ranning8 is as follows. The

vs data are plotted to an arithmetic scale and a
smooth curve through the plotted points are drawn.
Three points , and on the curve are selected as
such that their discharges are in geometric progression.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

At and vertical lines
are drawn and then
horizontal lines are
drawn at and to get
and as intersection
points with the verticals.

Runnings Method for Estimation of the constant

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

Two straight lines and
are drawn to intersect at .
The ordinate at is the
required value of , the
gauge height corresponding
to zero discharge. This
method assumes the lower
part of the stage-discharge
curve to be a parabola.

Runnings Method for Estimation of the constant

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

3.

Plot vs to an arithmetic scale and draw a smooth

good-fitting curve by eye judgment. Select three

discharges , and such that = and note

from the curve the corresponding values of gauging

readings , and .
From Eq.4.26:

=
+

Eq.4.30

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

4.

A number of optimization procedures are available to

estimate that best value of . A trial-and-error search
which gives the best value of the correlation coefficient
is one of them.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

PROBLEM SET
Following are the data of gauge and discharge collected at a
particular section of the river by stream gauging operation.
a) Develop a gauge-discharge relationship for the stream
at this section for use in estimating the discharge for a
known gauge reading. What is the coefficient of
correlation of the derives relationship? Use value of
= . for the gauge reading corresponding to zero
discharge.
b) Estimate the discharge corresponding to gauge reading
of 10.5 m at this gauging section.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

PROBLEM SET
Gauge
reading (m)

Discharge
(m3/s)

Gauge
reading (m)

Discharge
(m3/s)

7.65

15

8.48

170

7.70

30

8.98

400

7.77

57

9.30

600

7.80

39

9.50

800

7.90

60

10.50

1500

7.91

100

11.10

2000

8.08

150

11.70

2400

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

SOLUTION at (a)
The gauge discharge equation =

Taking the logarithms = + or = +

Where = and X =
=7.5 and =7.5

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

Stage G
(m)
7.650
7.700
7.770
7.800
7.900
7.910
8.080
8.480
8.980
9.300
9.500
10.500
11.100
11.700
SUM

(G-a)
(m)
0.150
0.200
0.270
0.300
0.400
0.410
0.580
0.980
1.480
1.800
2.000
3.000
3.600
4.200

Discharge
Q (m3/s)
15.000
30.000
57.000
39.000
60.000
100.000
150.000
170.000
400.000
600.000
800.000
1500.000
2000.000
2400.000

X =
-0.824
-0.699
-0.569
-0.523
-0.398
-0.387
-0.237
-0.009
0.170
0.255
0.301
0.477
0.556
0.623
-1.262

XY

X2

Y2

1.176
1.477
1.756
1.591
1.778
2.000
2.176
2.230
2.602
2.778
2.903
3.176
3.301
3.380
32.325

-0.969
-1.032
-0.998
-0.832
-0.708
-0.774
-0.515
-0.020
0.443
0.709
0.874
1.515
1.836
2.107
1.636

0.679
0.489
0.323
0.273
0.158
0.150
0.056
0.000
0.029
0.065
0.091
0.228
0.309
0.388
3.239

1.383
2.182
3.083
2.531
3.162
4.000
4.735
4.975
6.771
7.718
8.428
10.088
10.897
11.426
81.379

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

14 1.636 (1.262)(32.325)
=
2
2
14 3.329 1.262 2

= .

= .

32.325 (1.4558 1.262 )

=
14

Hence = .

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

The required gauge-discharge relationship is therefore

= . .
=

14 1.636 (1.262)(32.325)
14 3.329 (1.5926) (14 81.379) 1044.906

= .

As the value of is nearer to the unity

the correlation is very good.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

= .
= .

Stage-discharge relation (Arithmetic Plot)

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

= .
= .

Stage-discharge relation (Arithmetic Plot)

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

= .
= .

Stage-discharge relation (Logarithmic Plot)

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

SOLUTION at (b)
The gauge discharge equation =
= .

At = 10.5: as = 7.5 m
= /

BACKWATER EFFECT

If the shifting control is due to variable backwater curves, the

same stage will indicate different discharges depending
upon the backwater effect.

To remedy this situation another gauge, called the

secondary gauge or auxiliary gauge is installed some
distance downstream of the gauging section and readings
both gauges are taken.

The difference between the main gauge and the secondary

gauge gives the fall (F) of the water surface in the reach.

BACKWATER EFFECT

Let F0 be a normalizing value of the fall taken to be constant

at all stages and F the actual fall at given stage when the
actual discharge Q.

These two fall values are related as

Eq.4.31

In which Q0 = normalized discharge at the given stage when

the fall is equal to F0 and = an exponent with value close
to 0.5.

BACKWATER EFFECT

Backwater Effect on a Rating Curve Normalized Curve

BACKWATER EFFECT

Backwater Effect on a Rating Curve Adjustment Curve

BACKWATER EFFECT
PROBLEM SET
An auxiliary gauge was used downstream of a main gauge in a river to
provide corrections to the gauge-discharge relationship due to
backwater effects. The following data were noted at a certain main
gauge reading.
Main Gauge

Auxiliary gauge (m
above the datum)

Discharge
(m3/s)

86.00

85.50

275

86.00

84.80

600

If the main gauge reading is still 86.00 m and the auxiliary gauge
reads 85.30 m, estimate the discharge in the river.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

SOLUTION
Fall (F) = main gauge reading auxiliary gauge reading
When

1 = 86.00 85.50 = 0.50

1 = 275 3 /

2 = 86.00 84.80 = 1.20

2 = 600 3 /

1
1
=
2
2

275
0.50
=
600
1.20

= 0.891

When the auxiliary gauge reads 85.30 m, at a main gauge

reading of 86.00 m.

STAGE FOR ZERO DISCHARGE, a

SOLUTION
When the auxiliary gauge reads 85.30 m, at a main gauge
reading of 86.00 m.

= 86.00 85.30 = 0.70

= 2

= /

0.70
= 600
1.20

0.891