Low-Flow Channel Velocity Profiles with ADV

Tracy Vermeyen and Tony Wahl of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Denver, Colorado) recently completed a project using a SonTek/YSI ADV to obtain detailed velocity profiles in the Rio Grande low-flow channel near Socorro, New Mexico.

The ADV probe was installed on a modified 50-pound sounding weight and lowered into the flow at several locations in the channel. During data collection, the sounding weight was lowered to the bottom and raised in the smallest increment allowed by the deployment reel (about 4 cm).

The ADV collected 60 seconds of data at each location within the profile. Results were excellent -- the 3D velocity data reported by the ADV allowed them to correct for the deployment angle of the sounding weight.

Figure 1 shows the modified sounding weight with the ADV. Figure 2 is a plot of a typical velocity profile.

• ADV