Canal and river tests of a RiverSonde streamflow measurement system

Abstract

Results of field tests of a RiverSonde streamflow radar are compared with in-situ current measurements at a canal and a river in central California during June, 2000. Typical water velocity in the middle of the canal was about 0.45 m s/sup -1/ and 0.30 ms/sup -1/ at the edges. Velocity in the river was about 20% lower with similar cross-channel variation. Differences between the RiverSonde and in-situ velocities were 6-18% of the mean flow, with similar differences among the various in-situ velocities. In addition to the surface velocities, the total volume flow was estimated based on the in-situ depth measurements. Volume flow for the canal was about 37 m/sup 3/ s/sup -1/ and for the river was about 64 m/sup 3/ s/sup -1/, with differences between the various radar and in-situ techniques of less than 10%.