Methods for Measuring Discharge under Ice Cover
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 11
Abstract
Complete vertical velocity profiles were measured at 13 streamflow‐gaging stations across the northern United States to evaluate streamflow‐velocity adjustment coefficients and discharge‐measurement procedures under an ice cover. Adjustment coefficients at several common vertical positions varied significantly from station to station and from measurement to measurement at some stations. The ice‐cover roughness was the primary factor affecting the profiles at most stations. Several discharge‐measurement procedures were developed using one‐half of the data collected, and the accuracy of the procedures were evaluated using the other half of the data. The relative error for each method was computed by comparing estimated discharge to discharge computed using complete vertical‐profile information. Two procedures—a one‐point method with velocity measured at (where is the effective depth of flow) using a site‐specific adjustment coefficient and a two‐point method using velocity measured at and —were found to be the most accurate in terms of bias and root‐mean‐squared error. Further study is needed to evaluate the efficiencies of these two methods.
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References
1.
Alford, M. E., and Carmack, E. C. (1988). “Observations on ice cover and stream‐flow in the Yukon River near Whitehbrse during 1985/86.” Paper 40, National Hydrology Research Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
2.
Barrows, H. K., and Horton, R. E. (1907). “Determination of streamflow during the frozen season.” Water‐Supply Paper 187, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
3.
Melcher, N. B., and Walker, J. F. (1992). “Evaluation of selected methods for determining streamflow during period of ice effect.” Water‐Supply Paper 2378, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
4.
Rantz, S. E. (1982). “Measurement and computation of streamflow: volume 1. Measurement of stage and discharge.” Water‐Supply Paper 2175, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
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Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 12, 1993
Published online: Nov 1, 1994
Published in print: Nov 1994
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