November,

 2018  

Hydrology  

Chapter  (5)  :  STREAMFLOW  MEASUREMENTS  

BAU  WATER  RESOURCES  GROUP  

Dr.  Mohamed  El-­‐Kholi  
Dr.  Mohamed  Reda  Soliman  
Dr.  Amani  Abdallah    

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CONTENTS
 
Ø Why do we need to stream measurements ?
Ø Measurement of stream water stage.
Ø Measurement of stream flow velocity.
Ø Measurement of stream flow discharge.
Ø Stage-Discharge Relationship (Rating Curve).

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5.1 Why we need to stream measurements ?  

Gauging  StaDon:  a  point  along  the  stream  where  stream  flow  is  
measured.  
Stream  flow  measurements  are  fundamental  to:  
(1)  Design  of  water  structures:  culverts,  bridges,  storm  water  
systems,  dams  and  other  engineering  works;  
(2)  Manage  reservoir  releases  for  water  supply,  irrigaDon,  
hydropower,  industry,  and  navigaDon  uses;    
(3)  protect  stream  ecology;  and    
(4)  plan  for  a  sustainable  water  future;  
•  Monitoring  climate  change  and  drought.    
•  Flood  forecasDng  &  analysis,  and  Flood  miDgaDon.  
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5.2 Measurement of stream water stage    

Water  stage  is  the  verFcal  distance  between  

the  water  surface  and  a  horizontal  datum  (Sea  
water  level).  

a-­‐  Manual  gauges  (staff  gauge)  

VerFcal  staff  

Inclined  
staff  
SecFonal  staff  
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5.3 Measurement of stream Water stage    
b-­‐  Recording  Gauges  

A  schemaFc  sketch  for  the  Gauge  house  

A  permanent  Gauge  house:  1-­‐  protecFng  the  float  and  electronic  devices  
5  
2-­‐  Decrease  the  water  level  fluctuaFons  
5.3 Measurement of stream water stage    

Typical  data  logger  

Ultrasonic  Non-­‐contact  
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level  sensor  
5.4 Measurement of stream flow velocity

a-­‐  AcousDc  Doppler  Current  Profiler  (ADCP)  

ADCP  is  a  hydroacousDc  current  meter  similar  to  a  

sonar,   aRempDng   to   measure   water   current  
velociDes   over   a   depth   range   using   the   Doppler  
effect   of   sound   waves   scaRered   back   from  
parDcles  within  the  water  column.  

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 5.4 Measurement of stream flow velocity
b-­‐  Price  current  meter  

C-­‐  Propeller  type  current  meter  

V(m/s)  =  a  +  b  *  N(rev/sec)  

V=  Flow  Velocity;  N=  No.  of  revoluFons/  Sec.  ;  a  and  b  =  constants  

a=  starDng  velocity  to  overcome  mechanical  fricDon;  b  =  equipment  calibraDon  constant   8  
5.4 Measurement of stream flow velocity
Current  meter  equaFon   V(m/s)  =  a  +  b  *  N(rev/sec)  
V=  Velocity,  N=  No.  of  revoluFons/  Sec.  ,  a  and  b  =  constants  
a=  starDng  velocity  to  overcome  mechanical  fricDon;  b  =  equipment  calibraDon  constant  
Example  
While  calibraDng  a  current  meter,  it  was  found      
N  (rev/sec)   0.22   0.38   0.52   0.58   0.72   0.78  
V  (m/s)   0.35   0.63   0.77   0.92   1.06   1.20  

Req:  Find  the  flow  velocity  

 at  N  =  0.45  and  0.65  rev/sec.  

a=  0.0443,  b=  1.4575  

V  =  0.0443  +  1.4575  N    

At  N  =  0.45  à  V  =  0.70  m/s  

At  N  =  0.65  à  V  =  0.99  m/s  
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5.4 Measurement of stream flow velocity

1-­‐   If   the   water   depth   (h)   <=  

0.60m,   then   measure   the  
velocity   at   one   locaFon:   0.6   of  
the   depth   below   the   water  
surface.    
V  =  V0.6h  

2-­‐  If  the  water  depth  (h)  >  0.60m,  

then  measure  the  velocity  at  two  
locaFons:  0.2  and  0.8  of  the  depth  
below  the  water  surface.  The  two  
velocity  values  are  averaged.    
 
V  =  (V0.2h  +  V0.8h)/2  
5.5 Measurement of stream flow discharge
a-­‐  Velocity-­‐Area  method  

Discharge   Velocity   Cross-­‐secFonal  Area  

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5.5 Measurement of stream flow discharge
1.  Locate  a  cross-­‐secDon  of  the  stream  channel  for  discharge  determinaDon  
that  has  most  of  the  following  qualiDes:  
•  Segment  of  stream  above  and  below  cross-­‐secDon  is  straight  
•  Depths   mostly   greater   than   15   cenDmeters,   and   velociDes   mostly  
greater  than  0.15  meters/second.    
•  "U"  shaped,  with  a  uniform  streambed  free  of  large  boulders,  woody  
debris  or  brush,  and  dense  aquaDc  vegetaDon.  
•  Flow   is   relaDvely   uniform,   with   no   eddies,   backwaters,   or   excessive  
turbulence.  

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 5.5 Measurement of stream flow discharge
2.  Stretch   a   meter   tape   across   the   stream   perpendicular   to   its   flow,  
approximately  one  meter  above  water  level.  
3.  Divide   the   total   weRed   stream   width   into   15   to   20   equal-­‐sized   intervals.   To  
determine  interval  width  (bi).  
4.  Stand   downstream   of   the   tape   and   to   the   side   of   the   midpoint   of   the   first  
interval  (closest  to  the  lec  bank  if  looking  downstream).  
5.  Place  the  current  meter  wading  rod  in  the  stream  at  the  midpoint  of  the  
interval  and  adjust  the  propeller  so  that  it  is  at  the  water  surface.  Record  the  
distance  from  the  lec  bank  (in  cenDmeters)  and  the  depth  (hi)  indicated  on  
the  wading  rod  on  the  Field  Measurement  Form.  
6.  Stand  downstream  of  the  propeller  to  avoid  disrupDng  the  stream  flow.    
Adjust  the  posiDon  of  the  propeller  on  the  wading  rod  so  it  is  at  0.2  and  0.8  of  
the  measured  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  Face  the  propeller  
upstream  at  a  right  angle  to  the  cross-­‐secDon.    
7.  Wait  20  seconds  to  allow  the  meter  to  equilibrate,  then  measure  the  velocity.  
Record  the  value  on  the  Field  Measurement  Form.  (v0.2h  and  v0.8h)  
8.  Move  to  the  midpoint  of  the  next  interval  and  repeat  Steps  5  through  7.  
ConDnue  unDl  depth  and  velocity  measurements  have  been  recorded  for  all  
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intervals.  
5.5 Measurement of stream flow discharge
Solved  example,  Book  pa.  50:  

For  a  channel  of  34  m  in  width,  Find  the  total  discharge  

Distance  from  leh   Water   Measurement   measured  

bank   depth   depth   velocity  

4   1.00   0.60   0.33  

0.70   1.03  
8   3.50  
2.80   0.63  
1.04   1.05  
12   5.20  
4.16   0.81  
1.26   1.14  
18   6.30  
5.04   0.85  
0.88   1.09  
22   4.40  
3.52   0.95  

26   2.20   1.32   0.69  

30   0.80   0.48   0.40  

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5.5 Measurement of stream flow discharge

Distance  from  leh   Water   measured     measured  

Vav   dA   dQ  
bank   depth   depth   velocity  

4   1.00   0.60   0.33   0.33   4.00   1.34  

0.70   1.03  
8   3.50   0.83   14.00   11.57  
2.80   0.63  
1.04   1.05  
12   5.20   0.93   26.00   24.25  
4.16   0.81  
1.26   1.14  
18   6.30   0.99   31.50   31.31  
5.04   0.85  
0.88   1.09  
22   4.40   1.02   17.60   17.96  
3.52   0.95  

26   2.20   1.32   0.69   0.69   8.80   6.03  

30   0.80   0.48   0.40   0.40   3.20   1.28  

Q=   93.73  
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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage

b-­‐  Using  Hydraulic  structures  

Q  =  c  Hn  

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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage
1-­‐  Rectangular  sharp  crested  weir  

H
H Q  =  c  Hn  

B  =  Weir  width  
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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage
2-­‐  V-­‐notch  sharp  crested  weir  

H
H

Q  =  c  Hn  

Θ  =  the  notch  angle  

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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage

3-­‐  Broad  crested  weir  

4-­‐  Water  falls  

yb  

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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage

5-­‐  Parshall  Flume  

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5.5 Measurement of stream water stage

C.  By  using  tracer  soluDon  

Q=  Qt  (  C1-­‐C2)/(C2-­‐Co)  
Where:  
Q:  Stream  flow  rate  
Q  :  Dosing  rate  
Co  :  ConcentraFon  of  tracer  in  the  stream  
C1:  ConcentraFon  of  tracer  in  the  doze  
C2:  ConcentraFon  of  tracer  aher  mixing    

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Thank You for your attention