Publications—Open-File Report 99–255
By Peter E. Church, Gregory E. Granato, and David W. Owens
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99–255
A Contribution to the National Highway Runoff Data and Methodology Synthesis
ONLINE ONLY
This report is available in Portable Document Format (PDF):
OFR 99–255 (418 KB) – 38
pages
Accurate and representative precipitation
and stormwater-flow data are crucial for use of
highway- or urban-runoff study results, either individually
or in a regional or national synthesis of
stormwater-runoff data. Equally important is
information on the level of accuracy and representativeness
of this precipitation and stormwaterflow
data. Accurate and representative measurements
of precipitation and stormwater flow, however,
are difficult to obtain because of the rapidly
changing spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation
and flows during a storm. Many hydrologic
and hydraulic factors must be considered in
performing the following: selecting sites for measuring
precipitation and stormwater flow that will
provide data that adequately meet the objectives
and goals of the study, determining frequencies
and durations of data collection to fully characterize
the storm and the rapidly changing stormwater
flows, and selecting methods that will yield accurate
data over the full range of both rainfall intensities
and stormwater flows.
To ensure that the accuracy and representativeness
of precipitation and stormwater-flow data
can be evaluated, decisions as to (1) where in the
drainage system precipitation and stormwater
flows are measured, (2) how frequently precipitation
and stormwater flows are measured, (3) what
methods are used to measure precipitation and
stormwater flows, and (4) on what basis are these
decisions made, must all be documented and communicated
in an accessible format, such as a
project description report, a data report or an
appendix to a technical report, and (or) archived in
a State or national records center.
A quality assurance/quality control program
must be established to ensure that this information
is documented and reported, and that decisions
made in the design phase of a study are continually
reviewed, internally and externally, throughout the
study. Without the supporting data needed to evaluate
the accuracy and representativeness of the
precipitation and stormwater-flow measurements,
the data collected and interpretations made may
have little meaning.
Abstract
Introduction
Problem
Purpose and Scope
Precipitation Data
Site Selection
Frequency and Duration of Precipitation Measurements
Methods for Measuring Precipitation
Stormwater-Flow Measurements
Site Selection
Frequency and Duration of Stormwater-Flow Measurements
Methods for Measuring Stormwater Flow
Primary Devices/Methods
Channel Friction Coefficient Method
Index Velocity Method
Weirs
Flumes
Differential Pressure Method
Acoustic and Electromagnetic Methods
Dilution Methods
Secondary Devices/Methods
Floats
Pneumatic sensors
Electronic sensors
Acoustic sensors
Comparison of Flow Measurement Methods
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Conclusion
References
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Suggested Citation:
Church, P.E., Granato, G.E., and Owens, D.W., 1999, Basic requirements for collecting, documenting, and reporting precipitation and measurements: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-255, 30 p.
For additional information write to:
Director,
USGS Massachusetts–Rhode Island Water Science Center
10 Bearfoot Road
Northborough, MA 01532or visit our Web site at:
http://ma.water.usgs.gov
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