How to Measure Water Current of the Yenisey River?

1. Where is the Yenisey River?

The Yenisey River is among the most powerful and largest rivers in Siberia, Russia. The source of this river is generally located at the Sayan Mountains near the Mongolian border. From there, it embarks on a huge and exhaustive journey, stretching across the Siberian plains and tundra.

It varies from thick taiga forests fully covered with conifers to vast, open tundra areas as it flows north. Its banks host several small settlements and indigenous groups. The Yenisey River is connected with these communities in one way or another, be it for catching fish, transportation, or at least a source of water. In the past, it was a very important artery of trade and exploration in most parts of Siberia.

The Yenisey River is an integral feature of the Arctic environment that supports many aquatic life forms: different species of fish, like sturgeon and whitefish. Its banks host a wide array of wildlife, from large mammals that include bears and moose to the many species of birds. The estuary where it meets the Kara Sea is also of key importance for migratory birds and the seal.

2. What is the flow rate of the Yenisey River Like?

The discharge of the Yenisey River has a pronounced seasonal pattern. During spring and at the beginning of summer, it is greatly increased because of the melting snows both in the Sayan Mountains and the area surrounding them. Huge amounts of melting snow and ice send a big volume of water downstream. This keeps the flow rate so high at times that the river carries thousands of cubic meters per second of water.

This is a period of high flow, which is very important in maintaining the volume of water in the river. Additionally, this flow recharges groundwaters and transports sediments. As summer wears on, the effects of snowmelt start to wear off, and flows start to dwindle. In winter, the flow rate of the river becomes very low and can freeze completely in extremely cold conditions. The average peak rate of flow during the height of the snowmelt season can be as many times that of the winter months.

Water volume that the Yenisey carries affects the local climate and sea - level in the Kara Sea where it discharges.

3. How to Measure Water Current of the Yenisey River?

Velocity Meter Method

The traditional method applies velocity meters, either mechanical or electronic. Measurements taken by this apparatus are usually taken at discrete points in a river, which directly give the velocity of the water at the location where the apparatus is placed. Considering the fact that the Yenisey River is long and structurally complicated, several measurements should be taken at different depths and positions in order to get a thorough understanding of the average character of water current. This might be labor-intensive and time-consuming.

Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler ADCP Method The ADCP is an advanced and more convenient measurement method for water currents. It works by sending sound waves into the water and measuring the Doppler shift of the reflected signals. That way, it can measure the velocity of water simultaneously at more depth levels. This will be able to provide a very specific profile of the current water, which enables more accurate assessments of the flow conditions throughout the river. ADCPs can be mounted on boats, bridges, or deployed on buoys for continuous monitoring.

Buoy Method

In the buoy method, buoys are put into the river but with sensors to detect their movement due to water around them. These buoys float on the water surface and give some idea about the surface current. However, they may not turn out to be as accurate for the full complexity of water current, especially when it comes to understanding the variations in velocity at different depths, as is delivered by other methods.

Among these, the ADCP meter is by far more sophisticated and efficient with regard to the measurement of the water current of the Yenisey River.

4. How Do Doppler Principle Using ADCPs Work?

Since the principle working of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) involves the Doppler principle, when an ADCP sends out an acoustic signal into the water, the sound waves travel through the water and reflect from the moving water particles. As the water particles are in motion, the frequency of the reflected sound waves changes due to the Doppler effect.

If the water particles are moving towards the ADCP current meter, then the frequency of the reflected wave is higher than the emitted frequency. In the opposite case, when the water particles are moving away from the ADCP, the frequency of the reflected wave is lower. Precise measurement of this shift in frequency allows the ADCP flow meter to calculate the velocity of the water particles at different depths.

Finally, the ADCP current profiler collates these discrete velocity measurements across the different depths to yield a full profile of the water current. Therefore, it will yield a very fine-scale understanding of the water flow at the surface and through the vertical section of the river.

5. What's Needed for High - Quality Measurement of the Yenisey River Currents?

For high-quality measurement of the Yenisey River currents, several matters about the equipment are critical.

That is, the material reliability of the equipment should be high. Because the environment in the Yenisey River is bad and has a low temperature, it contains an ice floe and frequently changes in the water conditions, so it needs high-durability equipment that can bear the exposure in water and sediment and the extreme temperature.

These traits include small size, lightweight, and low power consumption. A compact and lightweight device is easier to handle and deploy, whether on a boat or attached to a buoy. The low power consumption ensures that the equipment operates for a very long time without needing frequent battery replacements or access to a continuous power source.

Cost is another very important factor. A lesser cost would facilitate wide usage of the measuring equipment so that the monitoring of the river becomes more comprehensive.

In the case of casing of ADCP profiler, the use of titanium alloy is a very good choice. The corrosion resistance of the titanium alloy is very high, necessary within the context of water bodies like the Yenisey River, with equipment constantly in contact with water and other potentially corrosive substances. It is also strong and durable enough to bear physical impacts and pressure changes during deployment and operation. Also, it has relatively low density of titanium alloy, and this in return helps the aim of keeping the equipment light.

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

When choosing the right equipment for measuring the current of the Yenisey River, it needs to be based on many aspects.

Based on the Purpose of Use

In case the intention is the measurement of the horizontal cross-section of river current, then a horizontal ADCP will be appropriate. The design of an HADCP is intended for accurate measurements of water flow in the horizontal plane, useful for understanding the overall movement of water across a particular section of the river.

If the measurement is to obtain the current of the river in its vertical cross-section, it should use a vertical ADCP. With Vertical ADCPs, it can record very accurately the velocity of the water at different vertical depths, giving a profile of how the water flows vertically into a manner very well-detailed.

Based on Frequency

Another important factor for choosing the frequency is the depth of water in the Yenisey River. In general, a 600 kHz ADCP should be an option for water depths up to 70 meters. The frequency of 600 kHz could offer good resolution and precision for the water current measurement in comparative shallower waters.

For deeper waters, up to about 110 meters from over 70 meters, it would be appropriate to use a 300 kHz ADCP. This low frequency can go deeper into the water and provide useful measurements of the water current.

Various well-known brands in the market include Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those seeking a cost - effective option with excellent quality, the China Sonar PandaADCP is worth considering. It is made of all - titanium alloy material, offering both durability and reliability. With its incredible cost - performance ratio, it provides a great alternative for measuring the water current of the Yenisey River. 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.