How to measure water current of Yukon River?

1. Where is Yukon River?

The Yukon River is one of the key water courses in North America. It winds through the wilds of Alaska and the Yukon Territory in Canada.

It meanders through a landscape of disarming natural splendor, with towering mountains right and left with their snow-capped peaks glinting in sunlight, and with lush forests of spruce and pine lining its banks, providing habitat to a great diversity of wildlife.

The Yukon River has been a vital lifeline for indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Communities find in this river their transportation, fishing, and a source of food.

Today, the Yukon River continues to be of great importance within the economic and cultural domain of the region. It forms one of the chief attractions for people who are adventure-seekers and tourists around the world who come for its wild beauty and interesting history associated with it.

2. What is the flow rate of the Yukon river?

The flow rate of the Yukon River is seasonal. It swells into a high flow rate during the spring thaws when the river is full of meltwater from the mountains. Flooding commonly occurs at this time in parts of the area.

This is during the summer months during which the rate of snowmelt slows down. In general, the flow rate decreases. Even after rainstorms, the level and flow of the river may further fluctuate.

As fall and winter kick in, the flow rate becomes so much lower that parts of the river may even freeze solid.

The average volume of flow, however, in the Yukon River is colossal, which easily makes it a good transport route and even a source of hydroelectric power.

3. Measurement of the water current of the Yukon River?

The measurement of the water current of the Yukon River is an indispensable part in understanding its hydrological characteristic and applications for navigation, flood control, and environmental monitoring.

Traditional Methods

Historically, there were methods involving the use of floats and current meters for measuring the current in rivers. In the case of floats, they are released into the river and any movement tracked to obtain an approximate value of the speed of water flow. A current meter measures the speed of water flow by detecting the movement of a rotor or propeller.

Modern methods

In the recent years, newest technologies of acoustic Doppler current profilers-or simply ADCP-become trendy in river current measurements. The advantages of acoustic doppler flow meter over conventional techniques are as follows.

3.1 How Do Doppler Principle Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) Work?

ADCP work by emitting sound waves into the water. These sound waves are reflected from the water-suspended particles. The motion of the water by shifting the frequency of the reflected sound waves due to the Doppler effect produces a frequency shift.

By the Doppler shift, this ADCP device can calculate the velocity of the current at a specific depth. Multiple beams of sound are used to measure currents in different directions, allowing a three-dimensional view of the flow field.

3.2 What is needed for good measurement of the Yukon River currents?

A number of factors will come into play in order to carry out good measurements in the currents of the Yukon River.

First, the equipment should be reliable to stand harsh conditions of the river. For example, the Yukon River may have strong currents and ice floes, besides extreme temperatures.

The equipment should be small in size and light in weight to assist in easy deployment. This aspect is of great relevance in remote areas where access may be very poor.

Thirdly, the power consumption should be low in order to provide a long operation period without the need to change batteries frequently.

Finally, the cost: low-cost equipment allows for more measurements and monitoring.

The advantages of casing made from a titanium alloy

The following advantages can be considered for ADCP current meter using a casing made of titanium alloy. Generally, titanium alloy is strong and light in weight, which is particularly ideal for fieldwork. It also resists corrosion extremely well, which is critical in a river environment where the water can either be acidic or full of salts.

Due to good heat conductivity of the material, excessive heat can be dissipated and the stability of the instrument maintained.

3.3 How to Choose the right equipment for current measurement?

While choosing equipment to measure the currents of the Yukon River several factors have to be taken into consideration.

Based on usage

If the measurement is done for horizontal profiling of the river, a horizontal ADCP - HADCP will be an excellent choice. HADCP are designed for the measurement of current velocity in a horizontal plane and can give detailed information about the flow field.

For vertical profiling, an ADCP current profiler would be more suited. These instruments measure the current velocity at different depths in the river and would provide data about the vertical structure of the flow.

By frequency

Frequency selection is done depending on the river's depth. For example, a 600 kHz. ADCP flow meter would work fine in water as deep as 70 meters, while in deeper waters, up to 110 meters, an ADCP doppler operating at a higher frequency of 300 kHz would be more suitable.

Conclusion

Measuring the water current of the Yukon River is so crucial in gathering the intricacy of the hydrological cycle the river characterizes. With the aid of the highly powerful ADCP meter, one can gather data with real time and accuracy. While selecting an ADCP profiler, much consideration must be given, in view basically of reliability, size, weight, power consumption, cost, and frequency.

For those in quest of an affordable yet high performance ADCP with an all-titanium alloy case, excellent performance is guaranteed by the PandaADCP from China Sonar. Check them out at https://china-sonar.com.

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