Water Surface Velocity Research Articles

Water Quality Modeling in a Tidal Estuarine System Using a Three-Dimensional Model

A three-dimensional water quality model has been developed and applied to the Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal sea. The model considered various species of nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon, organic carbon, phytoplankton, and zooplankton as well as dissolved oxygen and was driven by a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The hydrodynamic and water quality model was validated with observational tidal range, water surface elevation, velocity, salinity, and water quality state variables. According to the analyses of statistical error, predictions of hydrodynamic, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients from the model simulation quantitatively agreed with the observed data. Based on the validated model, model sensitivity analyses were conducted with sediment oxygen demand (SOD), benthic flux of ammonium nitrogen, and freshwater discharge at upstream boundaries. If SOD value increased 50%, the maximum rates for decreasing dissolved oxygen were 47.9% and 94.2% at the surface and bottom layers, respectively, in the Danshuei River-Tahan Stream. Model results showed that SOD had a significant impact on the distribution of dissolved oxygen concentration along the river. Low freshwater discharges at upstream boundaries resulted in lower dissolved oxygen concentration and higher nutrients in the Danshuei River estuarine system.

고정식 표면영상유속계 (FSIV)를 이용한 실시간 하천 유량 산정

표면영상유속계(SIV)는 영상 분석 기법을 이용하여 하천의 표면유속을 측정하고, 이를 토대로 유량을 산정하는 시스템이다. 본 연구에서는 고정식 표면영상유속계(FSIV) 시스템을 달천 수전교에 설치하여 실시간으로 연속적인 유량 측정을 실시하였다. 수전교에 적용된 FSIV의 하드웨어 시스템은 영상 획득을 위한 2대의 디지털 카메라와 컴퓨터, 그리고 수위 측정을 위한 초음파 수위계로 구성된다. 이 현장 장비들에서 획득된 실시간 영상과 수위 자료는 무선인터넷을 이용하여 실시간으로 홈페이지에 전송되며, 표면영상유속분석 소프트웨어를 이용하여 유량을 산정한다. FSIV에 의한 유량산정 결과는 직상류의 괴산댐 방류량과 FSIV와 동일한 지점에 설치된 Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meter (ADVM)를 설치한 후 유속지수법으로 산정된 유량과 비교하여 검토하였다. 댐 방류량과 비교한 결과 30<TEX>$m^3/s$</TEX> 이상의 유량에서는 대부분 5~10%의 오차를 보였으며, ADVM을 이용하여 측정된 유량과 비교한 결과는 약 200<TEX>$m^3/s$</TEX> 이상의 유량에서는 오차가 약 5 % 이내로 확인되었다. FSIV의 설치 경비와 운용에 드는 비용과 인력을 감안한다면, FSIV는 실시간으로 유량을 관측할 수 있는 좋은 대안이 될 것으로 판단된다. Surface Image Velocimetry (SIV) is a recently-developed discharge measurement instrument. It uses image processing techniques to measure the water surface velocity and estimate water discharge with given cross section. The present study aims to implement a FSIV (Fixed-type Surface Image Velocimetry) at Soojeon Bridge in the Dalcheon. The hardware system consists of two digital cameras, a computer, and a pressure-type water stage gauge. The images taken with the hardware system are sent to a server computer via a wireless internet, and analyzed with a image processing software (SIV software). The estimated discharges were compared with the observed discharges through Goesan dam spillway and index velocity method using ADVM. The computed results showed a good agreement with the observed one, except for the night time. The results compared with discharges through Goesan dam spillway reached around 5~10% in the case of discharge over 30 m3/s, and the results compared with discharges through index velocity method using ADVM reached around 5% in the case of discharge over 200 <TEX>$m^3/s$</TEX>. Considering the low cost of the system and the visual inspection of the site situation with the images, the SIV would be fairly good way to measure water discharge in real time.

Cold-regions river flow observed from space

Knowledge of water-surface velocities in rivers is useful for understanding a wide range of lotic processes and systems, such as water and ice fluxes and forces, mixing, solute and sediment transport, bed and bank stability, aquatic and riparian ecology, and extreme hydrologic events. In cold regions, river-ice break up and the associated downstream transport of ice debris is often the most important hydrological event of the year, producing flood levels that commonly exceed those for the open-water period and dramatic consequences for river infrastructure and ecology. Quantification of river surface velocity and currents has relied mostly on very scarce in situ measurements or particle tracking in laboratory models, with few attempts to cover entire river reaches. Accurate and complete surface-velocity fields on rivers have rarely been produced. Here, we use river-ice debris as an index of surface water velocity, and track it over a time period of about one minute, which is the typical time lapse between the two or more images that form a stereo data set in spaceborne, alongtrack optical-stereo mapping. In this way, we measure and visualize for the first time, the almost complete surface velocity field of a river. Examples are used from approximately 80 km and 40 km long reaches of the St. Lawrence and Mackenzie rivers, respectively. The methodology and results will be valuable to a number of disciplines requiring detailed information about river flow, such as hydraulics, hydrology, river ecology and natural-hazard management.

Discharging capacity of rectangular side weirs in straight open channels

A side weir is a hydraulic control structure used in irrigation and drainage systems and combined sewer systems. A comprehensive laboratory study, including 843 tests for the discharge coefficient of a sharp-crested rectangular side weir in a straight channel, was conducted in a large physical model under subcritical flow conditions. The discharge coefficient is a function of the upstream Froude number, the ratios of weir length to channel width, weir length to flow depth, and weir height to flow depth. An equation was developed considering all dimensional parameters for discharge coefficient of the sharp-crested rectangular side weir. The average error of the proposed equation is 4.54%. The present study data were compared with ten different discharge coefficient equations developed by several researchers. The study also presents water surface profile and surface velocity streamlines.

Secondary Currents and Corresponding Surface Velocity Patterns in a Turbulent Open-Channel Flow over a Rough Bed

River and open-channel flows present complex three-dimensional (3D) structures in the water column and on the surface as a result of the existence of secondary currents driven by either centrifugal force or turbulence. This paper experimentally investigates secondary currents in a straight, turbulent, rough-bed open-channel flow; the effect of different channel width to flow depth ratios (12.25, 15, and 20) on secondary currents; and surface boils associated with secondary currents at moderate Reynolds numbers. Nearly instantaneous profiles of three components of flow velocity and turbulence characteristics in the water column were measured by using an acoustic Doppler velocity profiler (ADVP). Simultaneously, large-scale particle image velocimetry was used to measure the water surface velocities and turbulence structures. Mean velocity patterns in the water undulate across the channel, indicating the presence of secondary currents in the long-term average flow structure. Secondary currents affect the distribution of bed shear stress, Reynolds stress, and turbulence intensities across the channel. The aspect ratio determines the number of secondary cells in the water column. A mean multiband undulating surface velocity pattern in the transverse direction correlates with the secondary cell distribution in the water column below. The instantaneous position of the upwelling and downwelling regions on the surface may deviate from their long-term mean position, indicating a meandering of the surface pattern. Vortex structures are detected from instantaneous surface velocity maps, and vortex boil lines are identified. Boil vortices mainly occur in upwelling areas with high vorticity. The simultaneous detailed velocity measurements in the water column and on the free surface have shown a good agreement between the secondary cell patterns obtained by the two methods.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY CHANGE IN HARBOR DUE TO TSUNAMI

Bottom topography change due to tsunami was experimentally investigated using a rectangular harbor model in a 2-D wave flume. Water surface level and velocity field were obtained as well to discuss the external forces. Accumulation region was observed in the middle of the harbor inside. Formed was conical bed topography. Erosion was around the accumulated region and at the breakwater head as local scour. These topography changes were caused by the tsunami-induced vortices inside the harbor and at the breakwater head.

Shoreline tracking and implicit source terms for a well balanced inundation model

AbstractThe HyFlux2 model has been developed to simulate severe inundation scenario due to dam break, flash flood and tsunami‐wave run‐up. The model solves the conservative form of the two‐dimensional shallow water equations using the finite volume method. The interface flux is computed by a Flux Vector Splitting method for shallow water equations based on a Godunov‐type approach. A second‐order scheme is applied to the water surface level and velocity, providing results with high accuracy and assuring the balance between fluxes and sources also for complex bathymetry and topography. Physical models are included to deal with bottom steps and shorelines. The second‐order scheme together with the shoreline‐tracking method and the implicit source term treatment makes the model well balanced in respect to mass and momentum conservation laws, providing reliable and robust results.The developed model is validated in this paper with a 2D numerical test case and with the Okushiri tsunami run up problem. It is shown that the HyFlux2 model is able to model inundation problems, with a satisfactory prediction of the major flow characteristics such as water depth, water velocity, flood extent, and flood‐wave arrival time. The results provided by the model are of great importance for the risk assessment and management. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Modeling Unsteady Flow Characteristics of Hydropeaking Operations and Their Implications on Fish Habitat

Reservoir releases associated with energy production and flood mitigation need to be reconciled with efforts to maintain healthy ecosystems in regulated rivers. Unsteady flow phenomena caused by hydropeaking operations typically affect riverbed erosion and fish displacement. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model is used to simulate the flow characteristics during the passage of the rising limb of an observed hydropeaking event in a gravel-bed reach of Smith River, Virginia. The calculated time-dependent water surface elevations, velocities, and shear stresses are compared with field measurements. Further, comparison based on numerical simulations of this historical and a hypothetical staggering hydropeaking event reveals that the latter has the capability of reducing the area subject to erosion and prolonging refugia availability for juvenile brown trout. Issues related to the adoption of either a truly dynamic modeling approach or a quasi-steady methodology for simulating unsteady flows are examined through a proposed unsteadiness flow parameter. The insights obtained from this study can assist in properly accounting for the impact of hydropeaking operations on fish habitat and instream flow management.

Discharge estimation in small irregular river using LSPIV

This paper reports on an estimation method used to quantify discharge in the small irregular channel of the River Blackwater, using large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV). The test reach (250 m × 60 m) consists of relatively straight and multiple meander channels, with a bankfull depth of 0·90 m and a base width of 4·25 m. Water surface velocities were measured by LSPIV at three sections along the river. Acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) was also used on two occasions to measure velocity profiles for the validation of water surface velocities of LSPIV. In addition to this field work, velocity data derived from a 1:5 physical model of the river were available to compare with the field data. A comparison between the LSPIV data and ADV data was made and agreement was confirmed. The discharge correction factor method was suggested to estimate the discharge in the river. Discharge correction factors of 0·90–1·05 and 1·10–1·15 were proposed for inbank and overbank flow conditions respectively.

Three-dimensional numerical study of flow structure in channel confluences

Channel confluence is one of the important features of each river system and some hydraulic structures. The features that can dominantly control flow characteristics in a confluence are confluence angle, discharge, width ratios, and Froude number of flow. Several research studies have been conducted however a comprehensive three-dimensional (3-D) numerical study of flow characteristics in a confluence has not yet been reported. In the present study, SSIIM2.0, a 3-D numerical model, is validated and applied to investigate secondary currents, velocity distribution, flow separation, and water surface elevation in different conditions. The results of the present study illustrate that flow structure and water surface variations in a confluence are highly influenced by confluence angle, discharge, and width ratios as well as Froude number because of their effect on flow deflection, separation, and secondary currents. The graphs from the present study can be used to analyze water surface variation, velocity field, and flow separation dimensions in difference conditions for engineering designs.

2010 Chili Tsunami Hydraulic data observed at Choshi offshore and their application to Anti-tsunami design of Offshore Structure

Water surface profile and velocity distribution of 2010 Chilean earthquake tsunami was observed by using the Ultrasonic-type wave gage and ADCP placed on the sea bottom 11m deep and 3 km offshore of Choshi city, Chiba prefecture, Japan. The following findings were made. 1) Measured data can be linearly separated into tidal and tsunami component and wave component by adapting numerical filter with the threshold period of 60seconds. 2) Existence of tsunami does not have large effects on the wind waves and swells component distribution. 3) Observed tsunami current velocity profile was affected by the tsunami deformation due to the sea bottom topography. 4) The tsunami current velocity vertical distribution follows power low with 1/n=1/5 to 1/7. Based on these findings tsunami wave force acting on the small diameter ocean structure was proposed.

A Multiphysics Multiscale 3-D Computational Wave Basin Model for Wave Impact Load on a Cylindrical Structure

A multiphysics multiscale finite-element based nonlinear computational wave basin (CWB) model is developed using LS-DYNA. Its predictive capability is calibrated using a large-scale fluid-structure interaction experiment conducted in a 3-dimensional wave basin to determine wave impact on a cylindrical structure. This study focuses on evaluating CWB accuracy using two wave excitation conditions — plane and focused solitary waves — and two cylinder arrangements — single and multiple cylinders. Water surface elevation and water particle velocity are predicted numerically for the fluid domain, obtaining horizontal force, overturning moment, and dynamic pressure on the cylindrical structure and calibrated against experimental measurement. The CWB model predicts wave motion characteristics — water surface elevation and velocity, and integrated structural response — horizontal force and overturning moment, for the given wave conditions well. Computation time increases and the predictive accuracy decreases as nonlinear fluid-structure interaction becomes increasingly complex. A study of computation settings for improving computation performance showed that a high-performance parallel-computing hardware platform is needed to model details of highly nonlinear physics of fluid flow including wave breaking and turbulence.

Nitrogen uptake and denitrification in restored and unrestored streams in urban Maryland, USA

There is growing interest in rates of nitrate uptake and denitrification in restored streams to better understand the effects of restoration on nitrogen processing. This study quantified nitrate uptake in two restored and two unrestored streams in Baltimore, Maryland, USA using nitrate additions, denitrification enzyme assays, and a 15N isotope tracer addition in one of the urban restored streams, Minebank Run. Restoration included either incorporation of stormwater ponds below a storm drain and catch basins to attenuate flow or hydrologic “reconnection” of a stream channel to its floodplain. Stream restoration was conducted for restoring aging sanitary and bridge infrastructure and introducing some stormwater management in watersheds developed prior to current regulations. Denitrification potential in sediments was variable across streams, whereas nitrate uptake length appeared to be significantly correlated to surface water velocity, which was low in the restored streams during summer baseflow conditions. Uptake length of NO3−–N in Minebank Run estimated by 15N tracer addition was 556 m. Whole stream denitrification rates in Minebank Run were 153 mg NO3−–N m−2 day−1, and approximately 40% of the daily load of nitrate was estimated to be removed via denitrification over a distance of 220.5 m in a stream reach designed to be hydrologically “connected” to its floodplain. Increased hydrologic residence time in Minebank Run during baseflow likely influenced rates of whole stream denitrification, suggesting that hydrologic residence time may be a key factor influencing N uptake and denitrification. Restoration approaches that increase hydrologic “connectivity” with hyporheic sediments and increase hydrologic residence time may be useful for stimulating denitrification. More work is necessary, however, to examine changes in denitrification rates in restored streams across different seasons, variable N loads, and in response to the “flashy” hydrologic flow conditions during storms common in urban streams.

Effects of sediment transport and seepage direction on hydraulic properties at the sediment–water interface of hyporheic settings

Relations between seepage flux and hydraulic properties are difficult to quantify in fluvial settings because of the difficulty in measuring these variables in situ. Tests conducted in a 1.5-m diameter by 1.5-m tall sediment-filled tank indicate that hydraulic gradient increased and hydraulic conductivity (K) decreased following the onset of downward seepage but both parameters were little changed following the onset of upward seepage. Reductions in K during downward seepage were more pronounced when surface-water current was sufficient to mobilize sediment on the bed. Averaged ratios of K determined during upward seepage to K determined during downward seepage (Kup/Kdown) through a sand-and-gravel bed increased from 1.4 to 1.7 with increasing surface-water velocity, and decreased to slightly greater than 1 when the sediment bed became fully mobile. Kup/Kdown for tests conducted with a silt veneer on the bed surface was greater than 2 for all but the fastest surface-water velocities. Substantial reductions in K also were associated with a silt floc that formed on the bed surface during and following test runs. Although the silt floc was typically less than 0.5 mm in thickness, most of the hydraulic gradient was distributed across this thin layer. K of the thin silt floc was reduced by two to three orders of magnitude relative to the underlying sediment. Directional bias in K and relation between K and surface-water velocity require the presence or absence of a layer of lower-K sediment at or near the bed surface, without which no reduction in K and corresponding increase in hydraulic gradient can occur at the bed surface. The lack of prior observation of the consistent bias in K associated with seepage direction is somewhat surprising given the numerous studies where K has been measured in fluvial settings, but may be explained by the small value of the bias relative to the typical uncertainty associated with field determinations of K. If shown to exist in field settings, this bias and its relation to fluvial processes will be relevant to many studies conducted in hyporheic settings that require determination of fluxes across the sediment–water interface.

Characterization of Resting Holes and Their Use by the Antillean Manatee (&lt;I&gt;Trichechus manatus manatus&lt;/I&gt;) in the Drowned Cayes, Belize

In the Drowned Cayes area of Belize, manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) are commonly observed resting in depressions in the substrate, locally referred to as manatee resting holes. To understand why manatees prefer locations with resting holes, the physical and environmental attributes of the depressions were characterized and diurnal and nocturnal use by manatees at four resting hole sites were documented over two summers. Twelve resting hole sites were compared with 20 non-resting hole sites in the Drowned Cayes, using water depth, substrate type, vegetation, water velocity, salinity, and water temperature. Four resting holes were chosen for repeated diurnal and nocturnal observations, during which sea and weather conditions were recorded in addition to the presence/absence of manatees. Resting holes were significantly deeper and had slower surface water velocity than areas without resting holes. A total of 168 point scans were conducted over 55 d, resulting in 39 manatee sightings over two summers. There was a significant difference in the number of sightings between research years and between day and night scans. Given the large number of resting holes in the Drowned Cayes, many of which are in sheltered areas with slow currents, it is possible that manatees select these spots based on the tranquility of the water and environment. The combination of slow currents, protection from waves, low numbers of boats, and nearby seagrass beds would make these ideal resting areas. These findings have implications for the conservation of important manatee habitat.

Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Louis Bay Estuary and Watershed Using EFDC and HSPF

St. Louis Bay estuary is a vital water body in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region and greatly affects the water quality in the Mississippi Sound. As the first step of total maximum daily load (TMDL) study, a hydrodynamics model was developed by integrating Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) and Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC). In this application the EFDC model was configured to simulate time-varying surface water elevation, velocity, salinity, and water temperature. The HSPF was applied to compute the fresh water discharge from the upstream watersheds. The model reasonably simulated the tidal range and phase. The simulated water temperature and salinity showed good and fairly good agreement with observations. The calculated correlation coefficients between computed and observed velocity were lower compared with those for water level, temperature, and salinity, but the magnitudes of simulated velocity were found to be in the range of observed data. The wind data was found to have strong impacts on velocity simulation by modeling verification tests. Near the study area, there is wind data available only at one station, which has been applied to the entire modeling domain. The lack of high-resolution wind data makes it very difficult to simulate the velocity distribution well. It is anticipated and recommended that the development of this model be continued to synthesize additional field data into the modeling process.

Prediction of salinity intrusion in Danshuei estuarine system

The main parameters that affect the flow conditions and intrusion of salt water in an estuary system are tides and the seasonal variation of water discharge. A laterally averaged two-dimensional numerical model called MIKE 11 XZ is used to simulate the hydrodynamics and salinity intrusion of Danshuei River estuarine system. This model can simulate hydrodynamics and water quality in estuaries, reservoirs and lakes. MIKE 11 XZ solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations by using Abbott–Ionescu finite difference scheme in a non-dimensional vertical σ-coordinate. Vertical eddy diffusivity in the model can be determined by a constant value, a mixing length theory and a k or k−ɛ turbulence closure scheme with Richardson number correction. A series of comprehensive field data obtained from Danshuei estuarine system is used for evaluation, calibration and verification of the model. The friction coefficient was calibrated and verified using water surface elevation and velocity measurements, respectively. Then the vertical eddy diffusivity was calibrated and verified through comparison of salinity measurements in different layers of several stations. Reasonable agreement was obtained between the model results and the observed data using k−ɛ turbulence closure scheme. The model application was investigated with different discharges and the effect of discharge variation on salinity intrusion was determined. The results showed that the fresh water discharge is the main parameter that affects the salinity intrusion in this system. Finally, simple power equations are suggested to predict the salinity intrusion due to the fresh water discharge in different tributaries of the system.

흔들리는 영상 분석을 위한 표면 영상 유속계 알고리듬

표면 영상 유속계(SIV, Surface Image Velocimetry)는 영상 처리 기술을 이용하여 수표면의 유속을 측정하는 장비이다. 유속 측정의 정밀도를 높이기 위해서는 화질이 좋고, 왜곡이 적은 영상을 획득하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 트럭에 장착된 기중기를 이용하는 차량탑재형 표면 영상 유속계는 왜곡이 적은 영상을 얻는 좋은 방법이 될 수 있다. 이 때, 기중기의 흔들림 때문에 획득된 영상이 흔들리는 문제가 발생하며, 영상의 흔들림을 보정하여 유속을 측정할 수 있는 영상 처리 알고리듬이 필요하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 영상 분석 기법과 좌표 변환 기법, 유속 산정 기법 등을 조합하여 흔들리는 영상에서 표면 유속을 측정하는 기법을 개발하였다. 즉, 비디오 카메라로 촬영된 연속 영상에서 고정점들의 움직임을 추적하여 카메라의 위치 변동을 파악한다. 영상 분석에서 구한 격자점의 속도에서 고정점의 속도를 빼서, 격자점의 유속장을 산정하였다. 개발된 기법의 검증을 위해서 실험 수로에서 동일한 흐름에 대해 흔들리지 않은 영상과 흔들리는 영상의 두 가지 영상을 만들고, 흔들림이 없는 영상의 처리 결과를 기준으로 삼아, 흔들림이 있는 영상의 처리 결과를 검토하였다. 그 결과, 흔들림이 지나치게 커서 참조점들의 추적이 불가능한 경우를 제외하고는 두 자료의 처리 결과는 거의 동일하였으며, 유속 측정의 오차는 약 6 % 내외로 나타났다. Surface Image Velocimetry (SIV) is an instrument to measure water surface velocity by using image processing techniques. To improve its measuring accuracy, it is essential to get high quality images with low skewness. A truck-mounted SIV system would be a good way to get images, since its crane gives high altitude to the images. However, the images taken with a truck-mounted SIV would be swayed due to the movement of crane and the camera by winds. In that case, to analyze the images, it is necessary to compensate the side sway in the images. The present study is to develop an algorithm to analyze the swayed images by combining common image processing techniques and coordinate transform techniques. The system follows the traces of some selected fixed points and calculates the displacements of the video camera. By subtracting the average velocity of the fixed points from that of grid points, the velocity fields of the flow can be corrected. To evaluate the system's performance, two image sets were used, one image set without side sway and another set with side sway. The comparison of their results showed very close with the error of around 6 %.

보정된 카메라를 이용한 표면영상유속계의 좌표변환방법

표면영상유속계(SIV)는 영상 처리 기술을 이용하여 수표면의 유속을 측정하는 장비이다. 표면영상유속계는 하천의 유속을 매우 간편하게 측정할 수 있도록 한다. 그러나, 표면영상유속계를 이용하여 유량을 산정하고자 할 경우, 하천 표면의 평면 측량 자료와 하천의 단면 측량 자료가 반드시 필요하다. 이 때문에 표면영상유속계의 간편성과 유용성에도 불구하고, 이용자들이 쉽게 이용하기 어렵다는 그릇된 인식을 줄 수 있다. 만일 효율적이고 간편하게 하천의 평면을 추정할 수 있다면, 표면영상유속계를 마치 일반적인 프로펠러 유속계처럼 쉽게 이용할 수 있을 것이며, 그 적용성도 크게 증진될 것이다. 이 연구는 보정된 카메라를 이용하여 실제의 평면 좌표(물리 좌표)를 추정하는 방법에 대한 것이다. 이 방법을 이용하면 유속장을 추정하는 과정을 반자동화할 수 있다. 보정된 카메라에서 평면 좌표를 산정하기 위해 사진 측량학적 기법을 채택하였다. 이 기법들은 컴퓨터 시각 분야에서 오랜 동안 연구되어 온 것이다. 이 기법을 표면영상유속계에 적용하여 사영 변환을 위한 참조점들의 좌표를 구할 수 있다. 이를 통해 참조점 측량에 대한 번거로운 과정을 생략할 수 있다. 개발된 방법을 실제 적용해 본 결과는 오차를 무시할 수 있을 정도임을 입증하였다. Surface Image Velocimetry (SIV) is an instrument to measure water surface velocity by using image processing techniques. It gives us one of the easiest ways to measure water velocity. However, since it requires a set of plane survey data to estimate the velocity, it may give us some kind of misconcept that its usage would be difficult or cumbersome in spite of its handiness. If it has a feature that can estimate the plane survey data easily, it may be treated as like one of the conventional propeller velocimetries and its applicability would be improved so high. The present study is to propose a method to estimate the plane geometry of the physical coordinate with a calibrated camera. With the feature we can half-automatize the estimating procedure for the whole water velocity field. Photogrammetric technique to calculate the plane coordinates of the reference points with a calibrated camera was studied, which has originally studied for long time in the field of computer vision. By applying this technique to SIV, it is possible to estimate the location of reference coordinates for projective transform without plane survey. With this procedure the cumbersome plane survey for the reference points is omitted. One example application of the developed method showed fairly good results with insignificant errors.

Modeling tidal circulation and stratification in Skagit River estuary using an unstructured grid ocean model

Tidal circulation and river plume dynamics in shallow-water estuarine systems with large intertidal zones are complex. Strong asymmetries in tidal currents and stratification often occur in the intertidal zones and subtidal channels over a tidal cycle. The Skagit River is the largest estuary with respect to the discharge of a significant amount of freshwater and sediment into Puget Sound, Washington. It consists of a large intertidal zone with multiple tidal channels near the mouth of the estuary. To simulate the tidal circulation and salinity stratification accurately in the intertidal region, an unstructured grid numerical model with wetting–drying capability and the capability to accurately represent the bathymetry of tidal flats and the geometry of shallow distributary channels is necessary. In this paper, a modeling study for the Skagit River estuary using a three-dimensional unstructured grid, finite-volume coastal ocean model (FVCOM) supported by high-resolution LIDAR data is presented. The hydrodynamic model was validated with observed water surface elevation, velocity, and salinity data over spring and neap tidal cycles under low-river-flow and high-river-flow conditions. Wetting and drying processes in the intertidal zone and strong stratification in the estuary were simulated successfully by the model. Model results indicate that the Skagit River estuary is a highly stratified estuary, but destratification can occur during flood tide. Tides and baroclinic motion are the dominant forcing in the Skagit River estuary, but strong wind events can affect the currents in the intertidal zone significantly. Preliminary analysis also indicated that the salinity intrusion length scale is proportional to the river flow to the −¼ power.