next up previous contents
Next: Lab2 Activities Up: Lab2 Background Previous: Measuring Velocity

How Real-Time Stream Gauges Work

The links in Section 3.1 show up-to-the-minute discharge at USGS and Army Corp of Engineers stream gauges. The procedure described above is too cumbersome to provide such data, instead it is derived from constant stream level (stage) monitoring using ``Stilling wells'' (Fig. 3.9), from which discharge is estimated using a ``rating curve'' (Fig. 3.10) for that site. The rating curve is derived by using the procedure we'll use in this lab for a variety of discharge levels.

Figure 3.9: Schematic of stream water level monitoring station (after Fig. 3.17, Sanders, 1998). The configuration shown is known as a ``Stilling well'', most stations simply have a PVC tube in place of the well.
Image ./sanders-1998_fig3-15.jpg

Figure 3.10: Example rating curve for a stream gauging station (after Fig. 3.22, Sanders, 1998). Given measurements of discharge at various river levels (stage), the rating curve can be obtained and used to estimate dischage given a stage measurement.x
Image ./sanders-1998_fig3-22.jpg


next up previous contents
Next: Lab2 Activities Up: Lab2 Background Previous: Measuring Velocity
GEOS 3110 Professor's Notes, Summer 2003
Dr. T. Brikowski, UTD