Lab 10: Surface Water

Nicki Hyde | 27 April 2016 | ENVL 2105 Spring 2016

Table of Contents
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ 1
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1
Methods ............................................................................................................................... 2
Results .................................................................................................................................. 3
Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 5
Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 6
References ............................................................................................................................ 6

List of Figures
Figure 1: Ariel photo of Stockton University displaying the location of the lab. Figure constructed using
ArcMap.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2: Stream morphology of riffle. Data measured with surveying rod. ................................................ 4
Figure 3: Stream morphology of pool. Data measured with surveying rod. ................................................ 4
Figure 4: Stream discharge. Data collected from velocity measurement data. ........................................... 5

List of Tables
Table 1: Measurements of Stream Water Data at Different Locations ........................................................ 3

Introduction
Surface water is the most readily accessible source of water on the planet. It is comprised of water from
streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans. In the hydrologic cycle, surface water evaporates and enters
the atmosphere. Water vapor in the air condenses and is released through precipitation. The water
reaches the Earth again in the form of rain, snow or hail. This precipitation takes three different paths.
First, it can evaporate or transpire again into the atmosphere. Second, it can percolate into the soil as
groundwater. Finally, it can run off into the land, collecting in the aforementioned sources of surface
water. (Strahler) Stream flow can be approximated by the water budget equation ΔS = Input-Output,
where ΔS is change in storage, input is precipitation and output is evapotranspiration. This equation
describes the flow of water in and out of a given system (Olson). We wish to gain experience utilizing
common stream measuring techniques. Our ultimate objective for this experiment is to calculate and
compare the stream discharge, the amount of water passing a location along a stream, of two different
cross sections.
Methods
We measured several features of a stream located on Stockton University’s campus. We observed water
quality, velocity, morphology, and discharge.

Stream Quality

“YSI”, a multi-parameter probe, was used to measure stream quality. This device recorded temperature,
dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, and pH in the stream. The YSI was placed into the water at
various sites. Stream water was measured at two pools, two riffles, and one random location.

Stream Velocity

We measured stream velocity using the “floating object” method. Two ping-pong balls were dropped
from the bridge of the light path, and traveled down stream for 12 meters. The length of time it took for
each ball to travel the 12 meters was recorded for three trials.

We also measured stream velocity using a flow meter. The rod was placed in the water bank at 0 ft. Four
more depth readings were taken across 25 ft. of stream. The wading rod was calibrated to take
measurements at 60% of each depth. Velocity was then measured at four locations, midway between
each location measured for depth.

Stream Morphology

Stream morphology was then measured for both a riffle and a pool. A cross section of each location was
measured using a surveyor’s level and surveying rod. The value of the surveying rod was measured for
ten locations along the cross section of both riffle and pool.

Stream Discharge

Then, we used the data from our velocity measurements to calculate stream discharge. The riffle cross
section was used to calculate the area of our stream channel. To estimate stream velocity, we used
Manning’s equation (V = (1.00/n) * Rh2/3 * S1/2) where:

n = roughness coefficient

Rh = hydraulic radius

Rh = A/WP; A = cross sectional area of flow (square meters), WP = wetted perimeter (m)

S = slope
Figure 1: Ariel photo of Stockton University displaying the location of the lab. Figure constructed using ArcMap.

Results

Table 1: Measurements of Stream Water Data at Different Locations

Dissolved Dissolved
Temperature Oxygen Oxygen Conductivity
Site ID Description (°C) (mg/L) (%) (μS/Cm) pH
pool 3.6 m 13.6 9.93 94.2 96.2 5.9
pool 6.6m 13.6 9.66 92.9 96.4 5.9
riffle 3.2 m 13.7 10.12 96.8 96.96 5.87
riffle 5.3 m 13.7 10.17 97.1 96.7 5.81
close to
random bridge 13.7 10.02 95.9 96.4 5.89
 Tape Reading (m)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0.350

0.370
Surery Rod Readig (m)

0.390

0.410

0.430

0.450

0.470

Figure 2: Stream morphology of riffle. Data measured with surveying rod.

Tape Reading (m)

1.3 2.6 3.9 5.2 6.5 7.8 9.1 10.4 11.7 13
0.390
0.400
Survey Rod Reading (m)

0.410
0.420
0.430
0.440
0.450
0.460
0.470
0.480
0.490

Figure 3: Stream morphology of pool. Data measured with surveying rod.

Stream Discharge I

To calculate discharge we multiplied the average velocity (0.062m/s), average depth (1.075 m), and the
width (7.315m) from our velocity measurement data. Discharge of this cross section was found to be
0.487 m3/s.

Distance From Bank (m)

0 1.829 3.658 5.486 7.315
0

0.1

0.2
Depth (m)

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Figure 4: Stream discharge. Data collected from velocity measurement data.

Stream Discharge II

Using the riffle cross-section, we calculated stream discharge with Manning’s equation shown below.

V = (1.00/n) * Rh2/3 * S1/2

Where:

N = .10

Rh = 0.295

S = 0.0073

We obtained a velocity, V, of 0.379. Multiplied by the area (3.93), we obtained a discharge value of
1.489 m3/s.

Discussion
Stream quality measured at the riffles, pool and random location remained constant throughout. These
consistent numbers may suggest that we correctly utilized the “YSI”.

The stream morphology of the riffle varied greatly in depths. There was a jarring increase in depth at
tape reading 2m. The stream morphology of the pool also varied in depths. However, it showed a more
steady increase and decrease of depth throughout the cross-section. More tape readings along each
cross-section would have resulted in a more accurate depiction of stream morphology.
The two discharge measurements we calculated differed for several reasons. Stream discharge I was
located in a pool cross section. Stream discharge II, however, was located in a riffle. As a result, the
velocity for stream discharge II was greater than stream discharge I. Also, the methods to calculate
discharge varied for both locations. Stream discharge I utilized the actual velocity, depth and width
values of the cross-section. Stream discharge II, however, did not have a recorded velocity. Instead, it
used Manning’s equation to estimate the stream velocity of the riffle. Arguably, stream discharge I is a
more accurate calculation, as it is comprised of the true measurements of its stream velocity, depth and
width.

Conclusion
Surface water is often examined from various perspectives. Water quality can be measured with a “YSI”
tool. Stream velocity can be measure by the “floating object” method or by flow meters. Surveying rod
measurements allow us to develop stream morphologies. Stream discharge utilizes velocity, depth and
width to calculate the amount of water passing through a cross-section at a given time. It is important to
have all three measurements for an accurate calculation. With these methods, we can better
understand the intricate processes that contribute to the hydrologic cycle.

References

Olson, Scott A., and J. Michael Norris. "U.S. Geological Survey Streamgaging." U.S. Geological Survey Fact
Sheet 2005-3131. United States Geological Survey, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Strahler, Alan H. Introducing Physical Geography. 6th ed. N.p.: Wiley, 2013. Print.