Syllabus for USGS Surface-Water Field Methods
Version 2.0
Water Resources Investigations Report 98-4252

Introduction to class

• Data collected at gaging stations
• Stage measurements
• Ratings (Stage-Discharge Relations)
• Rating controls
• Final records
• References

Gaging station Site Selection

• General criteria for ideal gage sites
• Location of gages within a drainage basin
• Channel conditions for an ideal location
• Field Reconnaissance
• Final Site Selection
• Virtual Visits to two gage sites

Controls on stage-discharge relations

• What are controls
• Types of controls
• Control attributes
• Control changes
• Upstream controls
• Artificial controls

Stage Measurement

• General concepts
• Gage datum
• Non-recording gages
• Recording gages
• Special purpose gages
• Data acquisition and storage
• Gage houses
• Reference gages--what are they
• Operating gages
• Record accuracy

Discharge Measurements – I
(Measurement components)

• Introduction
• Velocity-area method
• Equipment used to make measurements
• Measuring water depth
• Measuring channel width
• Measuring water velocity
• Equipment assemblages
• Safety

Discharge Measurements – II
(How to make measurements)

• Selecting measuring site
• Selecting measuring method
• Preparing to measure
• Measuring the first vertical
• Measuring by wading
• Measurements from cableways
• Measurements from bridges
• Measurements under ice cover
• Measurements from boats
• Special measurement conditions
• Measurement accuracy

Miscellaneous Measurements

• Introduction
• Measurements using floats
• Volumetric measurements
• Use of weir plates
• Use of flumes

ADCP Measurements

• Introduction
• ADCP theory
• Measurement concepts
• Safety
• Hardware
• Software
• Example measurement
• Measurement Documentation

Tests

Virtual Visits

References

Help

Maintained by: K. Michael Nolan (kmnolan@usgs.gov)
Last updated: November 14, 2005
URL: http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/sws/SWTraining/FlashFandR/Syallabus.html