Estimation of Average Stream Velocity
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 11
Abstract
Stream tracer studies provide information supporting diverse applications in environmental research and management. Average stream velocity through a reach is often estimated from tracer temporal profiles. This Technical Note addresses the calculation of average reach velocity. It is shown here that, under steady flow, average reach velocity over a fixed distance equals the spatial harmonic mean velocity. Similarly, the average reach velocity from the point of tracer injection to a fixed downstream measurement site is equal to downstream distance divided by the harmonic mean tracer time-of-travel, rather than the commonly used temporal centroid.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
10.
Buchanan, T. J. (1964). “Time of travel of soluble contaminants in streams.” J. Sanit. Eng. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng., 90(SA 3), 1–12.
1.
Calandro, A.J. (1978). “Time of travel of solutes in Louisiana streams.” Technical Report No. 17, Louisiana DOTD Office of Public Works, and USGS, Baton Rouge, La.
2.
Godfrey, R. G. and Frederick, B. J. (1970). “Stream dispersion at selected sites.” Professional Paper, 433-K, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
3.
Guymer, I. (1998). “Longitudinal dispersion in sinuous channel with changes in shape.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 124(1), 33–40.
4.
Hubbard, E.F., Kilpatrick, F.A., Martens, L.A., and Wilson, J.F., Jr. (1982). “Measurement of time of travel and dispersion in streams by dye tracing.” Techniques in water-resources investigations of the USGS, Book 3, Applications of hydraulics, Ch A9, 〈water.usgs.gov/pubs/twri/twri3-a9/〉.
11.
Jobson, H.E. (1996) “Prediction of traveltime and longitudinal dispersion in rivers and streams.” Water-Resources Investigations Rep. 96–4013, U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Reston, Va., http://h2o.usgs.gov/osw/pubs/wrir964013header.html.
12.
Jobson, H. E. (1997).“Predicting travel time and dispersion in rivers and streams.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 123(11), 971–978.
5.
Kilpatrick, F.A., and Wilson, J.F., Jr. (1989). “Measurement of time of travel and dispersion in streams by dye tracing (Version 2).” Techniques in water-resources investigations of the USGS, Book 3, Applications of hydraulics, Ch A9, 〈water.usgs.gov/pubs/twri/twri3-a9/〉.
6.
Mills, W. B., Bowie, G. L., Grieb, T. M., Johnson, K. M., and Whittemore, R. C. (1986). “Stream sampling for waste load allocation applications.” EPA/625/6-86/013, Tetra Tech, Inc., and NCASI for USEPA Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, Ohio.
7.
Nordin, C.F. J., and Sabol, G.V. (1974). “Empirical data on longitudinal dispersion.” Water Resources Investigations Rep. 20-74, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
8.
Nordin, C. F. J., and Troutman, B. M. (1980). “Longitudinal dispersion in rivers: The persistence of skewness in observed data.” Water Resour. Res., 16(1), 123–128.
9.
Rossman, L. A. (1990). “Design stream flows based on harmonic means.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 116(7), 946–950.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 11 • November 2004
Pages: 1119 - 1122
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 ASCE.
History
Published online: Oct 15, 2004
Published in print: Nov 2004
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.