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Streamflow Measuring Flow – Gauging Stations Rating Curves Streamflow Measuring Flow –gauging stations Outline: • Hydrographs • Discharge (Q) • Flood frequency • Flow calculations www.usgs.gov Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 1 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 2 Rating Curves: stage to discharge Hydrographs Hydrographs illustrate how streamflow changes with time. • They can demonstrate response to precipitation as well as the effects of urbanization. • Daily and longer hydrographs provide a picture of baseflow, storm flow, and snowmelt. • Average annual streamflow graphs provide a picture of water resource variability. www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hod/SHManual Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 3 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 4 Shape of the streamflow hydrograph Water Year Hydrograph from an individual storm Snowmelt Flow rate 2500 2000 Storm flows fs) c 1500 1000 Streamflow ( Streamflow 500 0 8/12 10/1 11/20 1/9 2/28 4/19 6/8 7/28 9/16 Date Time Baseflow Source: www.oaa.pdx.edu/CAE/Programs/sti/ pratt/images/hydrograph.gi Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 5 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 6 1 What is discharge? How do we calculate discharge or flow (aka Q)? • Discharge: The volume of water that flows past a • What we have: certain point in a stream over a specific period of time –area (ft2) & velocity (ft/s) • a.k.a FLOW = volume/time –time (s) & volume (ft3) • To solve flow you need: • How do we use these variables to get Q? – area (ft2) & velocity (ft/s) or – time (s) & volume (ft3) ⎛ ft 3 ⎞ ⎛ ft ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ 3 ⎜ ⎟ 2 OR ft Volume ( ft ) Q⎜ ⎟ = Area ( ft )× Velocity ⎜ ⎟ Q⎜ ⎟ = ⎝ s ⎠ ⎝ s ⎠ ⎝ s ⎠ Time (s) Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 7 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 8 Streamflow Cross‐Section Important Flow Units for water Cross-Section Area (ft2): • cfs (ft3/s) – cubic feet per second Width of stream (ft) x depth of stream (ft) – Often used for streamflow Streamflow velocity (f/s) • gpcd – gallons per capita per day 3 – Residential use of water per person, per day ⎛ ft ⎞ 2 ⎛ ft ⎞ Q⎜ ⎟ = Area ( ft )× Velocity ⎜ ⎟ ⎝ s ⎠ ⎝ s ⎠ • gal/min – gallons per minute – Flow rates for household fixtures (showers, faucets, etc.) • af/year –acre‐feet per year (72,400 af/yr = 100 cfs) – Amounts of water for irrigation, water utilities & many quantified water rights • cms (m3/s) – cubic meters per second (1 cms = 35.3 cfs) – Also used for streamflow Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 9 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 10 Daily Hydrograph Rillito Streamflow Flow rate Storm flows Baseflow Time Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 11 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 12 2 Sabino Creek –gauge height San Pedro River Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 13 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 14 Sabino Creek – annual streamflow Green River Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 15 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 16 Salt River, Arizona Colorado River 15,000 cfs www.inaraft.com/.../images/photo-salt-14.jpg 3,500 cfs Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 17 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 18 3 Mississippi River at Baton Rouge Flood Freq: What is a 100‐year Flood? • The maximum level of flood water or flow that occurs, on average, once every 100 years. • It seems simple, but… • What is the probability that a 100‐year flood will occur in any given year? • 1% chance of a 100‐year flood every year 100% % pics2.city-data.com/picthumb/thumbv10142.jpg =1 619,000 cfs 100years yr Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 19 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 20 10‐year and 500‐year floods? Stationarity is Dead, Milly et al. • Stationarity: the idea that natural systems fluctuate within an unchanging envelope of variability. • What else besides climate might affect this assumption? 100% % 100% % =10 = 0.2 • Probability density functions, stochastic models, GCM’s, 10years yr 500years yr LC/LU change, infrastructure adequacy, time series analysis IPCC model predicted What is the problem with this statistical method? runoff change by 2050 from 1900‐1970 Science, Feb 2008 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 21 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 22 Changes in “normal” Flood Freq. from Recurrence Interval Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 23 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 24 4 Flood Probabilities don’t incorporate Land Use Changes Watershed Changes! What changes in a watershed can affect • Vegetation removal the frequency and/or intensity of floods? – Increases runoff & erosion – Land Use Changes • Land cover change • Human Activities – Shru b ldland to grassldland – Land Cover Changes – Forest to grassland • Natural Watershed Alterations • Forest fires • Fires, cropping – Increase runoff & erosion – Changes in Infrastructure • Building, Diversions www.siskiyou.org SWH 3(5), Neary Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 25 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 26 Human Influence and Impacts Land use changes affect hydrographs • Urbanization creates impervious surfaces, leading to increased runoff and frequency of floods. – Less water infiltrates – More water enters streams – Velocity increases • Diversion, regulation, damming, channelization, etc. change streamflow • Erosion increases Æ impairs water quality Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 27 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 28 Calculating Flow (1) Flow variables • These problems are similar to “rate‐type” • What are our variables? problems where velocity is the rate. – Know: Volume • How long would it take to fill an Olympic – ? Minutes swimming pool (~400, 000 gal) if all you had • Whic h equation ? was a garden hose (~5 gal/min)? ⎛ 3 ⎞ 3 3 ft 2 ft OR ⎛ ft ⎞ Volume( ft ) Q⎜ ⎟ = Area( ft )×Velocity Q⎜ ⎟ = • How do we solve this problem? ⎝ s ⎠ s ⎝ s ⎠ Time(s) Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 29 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 30 5 Flow Example (1) Calculating Flow (2) How long would it take to fill an Olympic swimming pool (~400,000 gal) if all you had was a garden hose • How much water can a ditch carry per month (~5 gal/min)? if its cross‐sectional area is 10 m2 and the flow ⎛ gal ⎞ Volume(gal) Q⎜ ⎟ = rate is 1 m/sec? ⎝ min ⎠ Time(min) ⎛ 5gal ⎞ 400000(gal) Q⎜ ⎟ = ⎝ min ⎠ time(min) • How do we solve this problem? Time(s) = 80,000 min = 55.5 days Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 31 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 32 Flow variables Flow Example (2) How much water can a ditch carry per month if its 2 • What are our variables? cross-sectional area is 10 m and the flow rate is 1 m/sec? – Know: Area, rate 3 ⎛ m ⎞ 2 m – ? flow Q⎜ ⎟ = Area(m )×Velocity ⎝ s ⎠ s • Whic h equation ? 3 ⎛ m ⎞ 2 m Q⎜ ⎟ =10(m )×1 ⎝ s ⎠ s ⎛ ft 3 ⎞ ft ⎛ ft 3 ⎞ Volume( ft 3 ) Q⎜ ⎟ = Area( ft 2 )×Velocity OR Q⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ 3 ⎝ s ⎠ s ⎝ s ⎠ Time(s) Flow(cms) = 10 m /s Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 33 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 34 River Comparisons Area Area Length length discharge discharge river mi2 1000 km2 mi km cfs cms Amazon 2,270,000 5,879 3,920 6,307 6,354,000 180,000 Mississippi 1,247,000 3,230 3,870 6,227 619,339 17,545 Colorado 246,700 639 1,450 2,333 15,000 425 Salt 5,824 15 3,000 86 Verde 6,200 16 140 225 500 14 Arizona Water Issues © 2009 The University of Arizona – HWR203 35 6.
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