ADCP's Application in Flood Management of Katun River

Explore ADCP's application in Katun River flood management, its working principle, uses, and equipment selection for current measurement.

1. Where is Katun River?

Katun River is situated in the Altai region, basically in Russia. It forms one of the main major tributaries of Ob River, starting from the glacier and snow-capped mountains of Altai Mountains, which further covers a wide range of lands from alpine meadows, taiga forests, and valleys.

It passes through some small settlements and forms part of the important water source to the local communities and ecosystem. The Katun River basin has a climate distinguished by cold winters with substantial snowfall and relatively cool summers. The rainfall is well-distributed throughout the year, but snowmelt in spring is a significant contributor to the river's water volume.

2. What are the Reasons for Floods in Katun River?

Snowmelt: Due to the formation area being mountainous regions containing a large amount of snow and ice, one main cause of flooding would be the snowmelt of spring. As the temperature starts rising, large amounts of snow and ice from mountains melt very fast and drain into Katun River. In cases where the rate of melting snow outpaces the river's ability to carry the mass downstream, the water will level and overflow.

Heavy Rainfall: Intense rainfall, particularly in the summer months, is another factor that contributes to increasing volumes of water in the river. Heavy rain in conjunction with snowmelt may be especially hazardous since the event can overwhelm the natural drainage and flood-control capacities of the river.

Relief: Since the course of the river runs through mountainous and valley regions, the flow of water is constrained in some areas. During a high inflow of water, it causes back-up and flooding in the upstream areas. More so, the presence of debris from landslides or rockfalls in the channel further impedes the flow and enhances flood conditions.

On top of that, faced with such factors of floods, ADCP, or Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, is the more progressive means and method to monitor and handle such flow in the river.

3. How are Doppler Principle-based ADCPs Operated?

On that perspective, working ADCPs function on the premise based on the Doppler principle, wherein the ADCPs cast or shoot acoustic pulses into Katun River water. These pulses interact with particles in the water flow, such as sediment, small organisms, or ice fragments. Due to the Doppler effect, the frequency of the reflected signal is different from that of the originally emitted signal. This frequency shift is directly related to the velocity of the moving particles and, consequently, to the velocity of the water flow.

Employing more than one transducer, it transmits and receives signals at various angles that give the measurement of velocity in different depth within a water column. The obtained measurement is further developed, using sophisticated signal-processing algorithms into a very detailed profile of the water flow velocity that helps explain the hydrodynamic behavior of Katun River.

4. Application of ADCP in Katun River Floods

Velocity Measurement: The ADCP current meter will be able to measure the velocity of the water flow at several points along the Katun River during flood events with high accuracy. This information is highly important for the assessment of the erosive force of the floodwaters. For instance, high-velocity flows near riverbanks can show the likelihood of erosion, thus allowing the implementation of bank reinforcement as a preventive measure.

Flow Measurement Application: The flow rate is determined by the ADCP meter, integrating the measured velocity over the cross-sectional area of the river. The knowledge of flow rates is fundamental in the process of flood management for a prediction of the quantity of water passing through a specific area of the river. This can, therefore, be used to infer decisions about flood-control structures like dams and levees.

Sediment Transport Research: The Katun River is a carrier of substantial sediment flow, especially during flood periods. The ADCP flow meter can be used in the study of the movement of sediment during these periods. By relating the water flow velocity to sediment concentration and movement patterns, it will be possible to understand how floods affect the sediment balance of the river and its ecological implications.

5. How can the Data Measured by ADCP be Utilized for Flood Warning and Risk Management of Katun River?

Flood Warning

Velocity and Flow Data Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of the water flow velocity and flow rate using ADCP profiler provides real-time data. When these values exceed predefined thresholds, it can trigger an early-warning system. Alerts will send back to the local authorities or residents if, for example, the flow rate has reached a critical monitoring point upstream of a populated area indicating high risk.

Water Level Prediction and Warning: The velocity data obtained from ADCP current meter can be combined with other hydrological models to predict the water level. By understanding the relationship between flow velocity and change in water level, more precise forecasts of flood levels and their timings are possible, and hence, better preparation of flood-protection measures.

Risk Management

Water Conservancy Project Scheduling Decision Support: The data obtained from ADCP current profiler will contribute to the decision-making related to the operation of the water conservancy projects in the Katun River, like small reservoirs and water-diversion structures. For example, the flow data measured support a decision on when and how much water to release to balance the needs of flood control and water storage.

Flood Disaster Assessment and Emergency Response: In the aftermath of a flood event, it becomes possible to make flood disaster assessments using ADCP data. This would further include quantifying erosion that had occurred, sediment deposition at various sites, and changes in the morphology of the river channel. Such information is needed in formulating effective emergency response and post-disaster recovery plans.

6. What's Required for the High-Quality Measurement of Currents in the Katun River?

In high-quality measurement for the Katun River, the applied device should be built with dependably durable material. Based on the cold climatic surroundings in the river due to temperature and ice masses, further supported with debris, there is the need for toughness in an ADCP flow meter casing for withstanding extreme conditions.

The equipment size should be relatively small and lightweight for easy installation and deployment at different locations along the river. The consumption of power should be low to ensure continuous operation, especially in remote areas where the supply of power may be limited. Cost-effectiveness is another important factor, as large-scale deployment of the equipment may be required for comprehensive river monitoring.

The ADCP profiler casing can be manufactured using a titanium alloy because of its excellent strength and resistance to corrosion. Its high strength will enable it to withstand the mechanical forces generated by the flowing water, impacts from ice, and impacts with debris. The corrosion-resistance property ensures that the equipment performance remains stable over time even in the water-rich environment of Katun River.

7. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

Based on Usage Purpose: For horizontal cross - section measurement of the river, horizontal ADCP (HADCP) is the preferred choice. It provides a detailed view of the flow velocity distribution across the width of the river. For vertical cross - section measurement, vertical ADCP is more suitable as it can accurately measure the velocity profile in the vertical direction.

Based on Different Frequencies: Different frequencies of ADCP current profiler are suitable for different water depth ranges. For example, an ADCP with a frequency of 600 kHz is suitable for water depths up to about 70m, which may be appropriate for many reaches of the Katun River. A 300 kHz ADCP is more suitable for deeper water, up to about 110m, and can be used in sections where the river is deeper.

There are well-known ADCP current meter brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for a more cost - effective option, the China Sonar PandaADCP is worth considering. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, offering good durability and an excellent cost-performance ratio. You can find more information about it on its official website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.

Brand model
Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor ADCP, Pinnacle ADCP, Sentinel V ADCP, Workhorse II Monitor ADCP, Workhorse II Sentinel ADCP, Workhorse II Mariner ADCP, Workhorse Long Ranger ADCP, RiverPro ADCP, RiverRay ADCP, StreamPro ADCP, ChannelMaster ADCP, etc.
NORTEK Eco, Signature VM Ocean, Signature, AWAC, Aquadopp Profiler, etc.
SonTek  SonTek-RS5, SonTek-M9, SonTek-SL, SonTek-IQ, etc.
China Sonar PandaADCP-DR-600K, PandaADCP-SC-300K, PandaADCP-DR-300K,PandaADCP-SC-600K, PandaADCP-DR-75K-PHASED, etc.
Jack Law October 12, 2024
Share this post
Archive
ADCP's Application in Flood Management of Ob River
Explore ADCP's application in Ob River flood management, its working principle, uses, and equipment selection for current measurement.