Measuring river velocity and discharge with acoustic Doppler profilers

Acoustic Doppler profilers and associated software packages presently are being used to measure water velocity, channel bathymetry, and river discharge. The instruments have various configurations and frequencies; choice of the appropriate instrument depends on various factors including depth, width, and sediment load of the rivers being measured. The acoustic Doppler profilers are mounted on powerboats or small remote-controlled or tethered rafts or catamarans. Profilers enable users to make fast, accurate, and economical discharge measurements on large rivers and rivers with unsteady flow conditions because of flooding or irregular releases from reservoirs. This article describes the principles of operation, application of acoustic Doppler profilers to the measurement of velocity and discharge, and calibration and verification issues. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.