INTRODUCTION TO WATER RESOURCES METRICS

CIEN 6011 JANUARY 2014

OUTLINE
Hydrological observations and types of water resources data Water resources data needs Hydrological monitoring equipment Rain gauges Evaporation pans Infiltrometers Stream gauges Current meters Water quality probes

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Identify the types of water resources data. Conceptualise the use and need for water resources information. Become familiar with the instruments used for measuring and monitoring hydrological parameters. Understand the basic operation of hydrological monitoring equipment.

SUGGESTED READING
WMO No. 168 Guide to Hydrological Practices, 6th Ed. (Chapters 1 to 4) A Field Method for Measurement of Infiltration, USGS Water Supply Paper 1544-F

Oki and Kanae, 2006

DATA
Rainfall (mm, in) Discharge (m3/s, ft3/s) Stage (m, ft) Reservoir/Lake levels (m, ft) Evaporation and evapotranspiration (mm, in) Infiltration (mm, in) and rate (mm/hr, in/hr) Groundwater levels (m, ft) Sediment concentration (kg/ m3 , ppm) Water quality (surface and groundwater) (mg/L, ppm)

DATA MANAGEMENT
Operational hydrology Hydrological information system Hydrometeorological network design Data collection Data management Data analysis Data/Information QA/QC

WATERSHED DATA
Land use (vegetation, built development) Soil moisture Topography Geomorphology Pollution incidences (algal blooms, ecosystem damage)

DATA NEEDS
Policy Water resources assessments Water supply (drinking water and irrigation) Protection of aquatic ecosystems Wastewater Flood mitigation and disaster management Climate change

EQUIPMENT
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Rain gauges Evaporation pans Current meters Stream gauges Water quality meters

NON-RECORDING RAIN GAUGES

1. Standard gauge Receiving area between 200 500 cm2 and equal 0.1 of area of collector Collector (funnel), receiver (tube), overflow can Collector designed to prevent rain from splashing Receiver must have a narrow neck and diameter 0.33 of rim of gauge Preferred time for data collection is morning Readings may be taken after a rainfall event and added to compute the 24 hour total Measurements can be made through the cylinder-type receiver or using a dip-rod

National Weather Service Indianapolis, 2013

University of Maryland, 2013

NON-RECORDING RAIN GAUGES

2. Storage gauge Used in remote areas Receiver must be large enough to store water Oil film is used in the gauge Monthly measurements obtained

RECORDING RAIN GAUGES

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Weighing Tipping bucket Float Distrometers Acoustic

WEIGHING RAIN GAUGE

Receiving can, funnel, scale, recorder Rain falling into can triggers the scale (spring/balance mechanism) Rain is converted and recorded in inches Time series analysis of rainfall Wind screens placed around the entire gauge

University of Waterloo

TIPPING BUCKET
Wedge-shaped bucket attached to a lever Bucket fills in one compartment and lever tips The water drains to a second compartment Designed to tip when a specific volume (0.01) is collected Electrical signal after each tip and duration between signals is recorded Water flows out of the second compartment

Malvern Wells Weather

Water Resources Agency, WASA

TIPPING BUCKET
Disadvantages: Source of error due to small amounts of rainfall not captured during the tipping motion Design of the bucket results in a larger exposed water surface Specific volume may results in errors when capturing light rain/drizzle

FLOAT RAIN GAUGES

Vertical movement of water moves the float Movement of the float is recorded and transmitted to a chart Float chamber has to be emptied through a siphoning process Some gauges may have a smaller chamber to collect rain which falls during siphoning

Handbook for Agrohydrology, 1994

DISTROMETERS
Drop counting devices Measures amount, intensity, particle size and velocity Measured through a transducer as particles hit a detector Measured through image/reflectivity of particles illuminated by light

Thies Clima

ACOUSTIC RAIN GAUGES

Disdrometer Noise is detected through a microphone/hydrophone Rainfall rate can be calculated using the acoustic signal Typically designed to determine rainfall over a water body (lake/ocean)

INSTALLATION
Representative of surrounding area Wind conditions (speed and direction) Avoid adjacent objects Maintain a distance of 4x height of object Sited on the mountain slope with prevailing winds, halfway up slope (where only one gauge is installed) Top of gauge should be 100 cm above ground and level

EVAPORATION PANS
Square or circular Typical US Class A (dia. 47.5 in, depth 10 in) Pan is filled 2 in from top and volume of water added should be measured Measuring the water level: 1. Hook gauge, pan is filled and drained using a calibrated container. 2. Water level in pan equalizes with that of a vessel (placed at a benchmark below water surface) and volume of water in vessel is recorded using a measuring tube. Height of water level above benchmark is determined and precipitation is corrected for E = P d Water in the pan is automatically released or removed Coefficients are used to convert measurements to a large body of water

INSTALLATION
Installed with a rain gauge, anemometer, thermometer (water, air, humidity) and sunshine recorder Site must be level and representative of the natural cover Avoid obstructions (trees, buildings, other instruments) or keep a distance of 4x height Placed on the upwind side of a reservoir Mounted above the ground

The Constructor, 2012

Water Resources Agency, WASA

INFILTROMETERS
Infiltration rate using a large ring infiltrometer Rate of subsidence of water surface Rate of flow required to maintain a constant level Infiltration rate using a small infiltrometer ring Rate of flow/subsidence for period during which wetting front moves downward through soil column Apparatus rings, driving cap, depth gauge, hammer, splash guard, rule/tape, water, stopwatch, level Select a site that is level, no disturbances, no subsidence (animal burrows, etc.) Press cylinder in place and use driving cap with hammer to drive to a depth of 6-8 in (ensure cap is level) Volume of cylinder above soil is measured (diameter/depth) Volume of water ~80-90% of capacity of infiltrometers is added quickly

INFILTROMETERS
After water settles take an initial reading z = (Vol of water added to ring/X-area of ring) - h Periodic intervals for reading taken at 15 mins intervals (1st hr), 30 mins (2nd hr) and 60 mins (>6 hrs) Infiltrometer ring is covered with the driving cap to prevent evaporation

USGS, 1963

STREAM GAUGES
1. Non-recording gauges: a) Staff gauge b) Electric tape 2. Automatic water level sensors: a) Float sensors b) Pressure sensors c) Non-contact gauges

Staff gauge

Ultrasonic (Acoustic) Water Level Sensor

High Water Mark

Price AA current meter

Pygmy current meter

Quanta Water Quality Probe YSI Probe Meter

QUANTA

YSI