Hydrology

Streamflow Measurement
[4]

Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri

1 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement

 The Objectives of the Presentation

① To get a broad idea about the methods of

measuring streamflow

② To provide demonstration examples on streamflow

calculations

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 Introduction

Streamflow
represents the runoff
phase of the
hydrologic cycle

A stream can be
defined as a flowing
channel into which
the surface runoff
from a specified basin
drains
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4 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement
 Introduction

The discharge in a given stream is related to the stage

through specific relationships

The observation of the stage (elevation of the water

surface) is easy, inexpensive, and continuous readings
can be obtained

A continuous record of river discharge can be

determined from the continuous record of stage

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 Stream Stage Hydrograph

The stage data is often presented in the form of a plot of

stage against time (stage hydrograph)
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 Stream Stage Hydrograph

The use of stream stage data

① Determination of stream discharge

② Historic stage data are important for the

design of specific structures (bridges) in order
to estimate the design peak river stages

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 Stream Stage Hydrograph
Extreme Events

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 Measurement of Stage
Manual Staff Gage

Manual staff
gauge (a ruler):
this is the
simplest gauge

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 Measurement of Stage
Wire Weight Gage
 Mounted on the side of a
bridge
 It has a wire, a weight and a
reel of wire
 The weight is lowered until
it touches the water surface
 The gage determines how
much wire was required for
the weight to reach the
water
 This number is used to
calculate the stage
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 Parshall Flumes

11 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement

 Measurement of Stage
Parshall Flumes

Parshall flumes provide a convenient way for

measuring flowrates

Parshall flumes consist of:

① Converging section
② Steep throat section
③ Diverging section

Within the flume structure, water depth is measured at

the converging section, Ha
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 Parshall Flumes
13 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement
 Parshall Flumes
Measuring the Runoff from Faria Catchment

A diver for
measuring
stream stage
automatically

A scale for
measuring
stream stage Surface runoff
manually coming from
Faria area

14 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement

 Parshall Flumes
A typical discharge equation for the Parshall flume is
given below:

where Q is the discharge in ft3/sec, W is the width of

the flume throat and Ha is the upstream head in ft

Water flows through a Parshall flume with a throat

width of 4 ft at a depth of 2 ft. What is the flowrate?

0.026
Q= 4×4×2 (1.522)(4) = 47.8 ft3/s
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 Discharge Computation
Velocity-Area Method

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 Discharge Computation
Velocity-Area Method
Average velocity
In shallow streams of depth up to about 3 m: the
velocity is measured at 0.6 times the depth of flow
below the water surface (vav = v0.6)
In deep streams the velocity is observed at two points:
v0.2 and v0.8 and vav = ½(v0.2+v0.8)

17 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement

 Discharge Computation
Velocity-Area Method – Example

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 Discharge Computation
Velocity-Area Method

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 Discharge Computation
Velocity-Area Method – Example

=½×(0 + 2.1)
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 Discharge Computation
Dilution Gauging Method

In this method, a known quantity of dye (tracer) is

injected into the flow at an upstream site and
measured some distance downstream when it has
become completely mixed in the water

By comparing the concentrations at the downstream

site with the mass of the dye injected at the upstream
site, the flow rate can be determined

21 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement

 Discharge Computation
Dilution Gauging Method
Under steady-state conditions, the continuity
equation for the tracer is:
Q tC1 + QC0 = (Q + Q t )C2
Q t (C1 - C2 )
Q=
where: (C2 - C 0 )
Q: stream flow rate (cm3/s)
Qt: injection rate of the tracer (cm3/s)
C1: concentration of injected tracer (mg/L)
C0: background concentration (mg/L)
C2: mean concentration (mg/L) at the downstream
location
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 Discharge Computation
Dilution Gauging Method – Example

A 25 g/l solution of a tracer was discharged into a

stream at a constant rate of 10 cm3/s

The background concentration of the dye in the stream

water was found to be zero

At a downstream section, the dye was found to reach

an equilibrium concentration of 5 parts per billion

Estimate the stream discharge

23 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement
 Discharge Computation
Dilution Gauging Method – Example

Q t (C1 - C2 )
Q=
(C2 - C 0 )
Qt = 10 cm3/s = 10 × 10-6 m3/s
C1 = 0.025, C2 = 5 × 10-9, C0 = 0
Q = 50 m3/s

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 Streamflow Rate

As we know, streamflow is not directly recorded

The rating curve is developed using a set of measurements

of discharge and height (stage)

The measurements are made over a period of months or

years so as to obtain an accurate relationship between the
streamflow rate and the gage height at the gage site

Later, stream stage is recoded and streamflow is deduced

by means of the rating curve
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 The Rating Curve
 The rating curve is then × ×
used to convert records ×
×××

of water level into flow × ××

rates ×
×
×

××
×
×
 The rating curve should ×

be checked periodically

 Erosion of the stream

bed or deposition of  There is generally a relationship
sediments can cause the between discharge Q and stage h
rating curve to change so of the form:
that the same recorded Q = K (h-a)n
gage height produces a K, a, and n are constants. This
different discharge equation helps in extrapolation
26 [4] Spring – 2018 – Hydrology Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri Streamflow Measurement