How to Measure the Water Current of the Euphrates River

1. Where is the Euphrates River?

The Euphrates River is one of the most important rivers in Western Asia. It originates in the highlands of eastern Turkey and then flows through Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf via the Shatt al-Arab waterway.

It is a cradle of ancient civilizations, wherein many historical cities and archaeological sites have been traced along its banks. It is also the main water source for agriculture; therefore, this arid and semi-arid region yields crops like wheat, barley, and cotton from the waters of this river. The river also supports fish and waterfowl, along with various mammals.

2. What is the nature of flow in the Euphrates River?

The Euphrates River has a highly variable flow rate. It depends on many factors, the rainfall in its upstream catchment areas, snowmelt in the Turkish highlands during spring, and water utilization for agricultural and domestic use in the countries through which it flows.

In spring, snowmelt can increase the flow of the river significantly. The water level goes up, and the current becomes stronger. During the dry season, which is usually very long in the arid regions it flows through, the flow rate decreases. The average flow rate is also affected by the construction of dams and water management projects in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. These can also control the flow of the river and hence, on occasions, create disputes between the nations for water rights.

3. How to measure water current of the Euphrates River?

Velocity Meter Method

This is a traditional method employing mechanical or electronic velocity meters. The meters are dipped in water at certain points to calculate the speed of water passing by them. To get a proper three-dimensional picture of the current, placement at several locations and to various depths is required. Obviously this can be a quite time-consuming process and would, in any case, probably be unable to provide a complete continuous profile of the current through the water column.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)

The ADCP current meter method is a more advanced and efficient way to measure water current. It uses sound waves to measure the velocity of water at different depths simultaneously. It can also produce a detailed current profile from surface to bed by emitting acoustic signals and taking the Doppler shift from the reflected signals. This further allows for more comprehensive and very accurate measurement of water current across different sections of the river.

Buoy Method

This is done by placing buoys in the river and tracking their movement over time. The movement of the buoys by the water current displaces them, hence showing the speed and direction of flow. However, it has its shortcomings. It might not give a proper measure of the velocities at varying depth and is influenced by some external factors like wind and wave actions that could affect the movement of the buoys.

Among these, the ADCP flow meter method is more progressive and convenient for measuring the water current of the Euphrates River.

4. How do the ADCPs based on the Doppler Principle work?

The basic operating principle of ADCPs is the Doppler effect. A signal of acoustic frequency emitted from an ADCP current profiler transducer into the water, due to the moving water particles, scatters the sound waves. Since the water is flowing, the frequency of the reflected sound waves to the transducer is altered, known as the Doppler shift.

This principle implies that if the water moves toward the transducer, it shows a frequency of the reflected waves higher than the one emitted. In contrast, when the water moves away from the transducer, the frequency becomes lower. Precise measurement of this frequency shift at multiple angles and different depth can enable the ADCP profiler to calculate the velocity in the different directions and different levels of the water column. This enables it to give a detailed profile of the water current, thus giving important information on the speed and direction of flow from the surface to the riverbed.

5. What is required for high-quality measurement of Euphrates river currents?

For high-quality measurement of the currents of the Euphrates River, the measuring equipment must possess some characteristics.

The materials used to build it should be of a reliable nature so that the measurements are accurate and in agreement. A small size is advantageous because it enables easy deployment and retrieval in the river, especially for sites with poor access.

It should also not be too heavy to make the installation process easier and less cumbersome to handle.

Necessary to give long-term operating capabilities to the equipment by avoiding frequent change of batteries and/or forbidding the cabling needed by an electricity supply.

An increasingly key element in the industry nowadays because that allows increased uses and widespread, larger-scale measurement campaigns.

Ti alloy is a very good choice to cover an ADCP meter. Since. It is highly resistant to the corrosion, which is significant because the equipment is continuously in contact with water that can contain various minerals, sediments, and pollutants. It also has a good strength-to-weight ratio, making it possible to have a robust yet lightweight casing. More importantly, it can withstand the mechanical stresses during deployment and operation in the flowing water of the Euphrates River.

6. How to Choose the right equipment for current measurement?

In choosing the right equipment for measuring the current of the Euphrates River, two main factors should be considered.

Depending on the usage purpose, for horizontal cross - section measurement, HADCP is the suitable option. It is designed to measure the flow velocities across a horizontal plane in the river with high accuracy for the purpose of understanding the lateral distribution of the current. In the case of vertical cross-section measurement, the Vertical ADCP would be more appropriate because it focuses on profiling the current from the surface to the bottom along a vertical line in the water column.

Different frequencies of ADCPs are suited for different water depths. For instance, an ADCP flow meter with a frequency of 600 kHz is suitable for water depths within 70 m. It can provide accurate current measurements in relatively shallower parts of the Euphrates River. An ADCP current meter with a frequency of 300 kHz is more appropriate for deeper waters up to 110 m, which can be useful in areas where the river has greater depth.

There are well - known brands of ADCPs such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those looking for a cost - effective option with good quality, the China Sonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It is made of all - titanium alloy material and offers an incredible price-performance ratio. You can find out more about it on its website: https://china-sonar.com/.

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