A simple-harmonic model for depicting the annual cycle of seasonal temperatures of streams
Open-File Report
78-155
By: Timothy Doak Steele
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Abstract
Due to economic or operational constraints, stream-temperature records cannot always be collected at all sites where information is desired or at frequencies dictated by continuous or near-continuous surveillance requirements. For streams where only periodic measurements are made during the year, and that are not appreciably affected by regulation or by thermal loading , a simple harmonic function may adequately depict the annual seasonal cycle of stream temperature at any given site. Resultant harmonic coefficients obtained from available stream-temperature records may be used in the following ways: (1) To interpolate between discrete measurements by solving the harmonic function at specified times, thereby filling in estimates of stream-temperature values; (2) to characterize areal or regional patterns of natural stream-temperature values; (2) to characterize areal or regional patterns of natural stream-temperature conditions; and (3) to detect and to assess any significant at a site brought about by streamflow regulation or basin development. Moreover, less-than-daily or sampling frequencies at a given site may give estimates of annual variation of stream temperatures that are statistically comparable to estimates obtained from a daily or continuous sampling scheme. The latter procedure may result in potential savings of resources in network operations, with negligible loss in information on annual stream-temperature variations. (Woodard -USGS)
Suggested Citation
Steele, T.D., 1978, A simple-harmonic model for depicting the annual cycle of seasonal temperatures of streams: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-155, iii, 16 p. :ill. ;28 cm.; (36 p. - PGS), https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr78155.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | A simple-harmonic model for depicting the annual cycle of seasonal temperatures of streams |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 78-155 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr78155 |
| Year Published | 1978 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Description | iii, 16 p. :ill. ;28 cm.; (36 p. - PGS) |