Water flow measurements in Turkey's rivers and evaluation of alternative methods

Abstract

The accuracy and sustainability in the flow measurement of rivers has a great importance for the water management, planning of water storage structures and prediction of floods. Flow measurements include some difficulty due to the variability of many hydrologic factors. Current rivers flow measurement in Turkey is generally based on the use of limnograph and discharge rating curve and, advances has mostly been made the improvement of reading of limnograph. In this study, at the stage of the discharge measurement, giving priority to the improvement in the measurements of flow velocity and cross-section has been emphasized. Then, while obtaining discharge rating curve, it was expressed that not only the depth of water but also flow velocity values have to be taken into account for the preparing and using the discharge rating curve. A field study conducted by the acoustic method sampled for the assessments that were made. From findings, It was concluded that the use of flow velocity values for the discharge rating curve gives better estimate results.