Title :
The use of position-tracking drifters in riverine environments
Author :
Swick, William ; MacMahan, Jamie
Author_Institution :
Oceanogr. Dept., Naval Postgrad. Sch., Monterey, CA, USA
Abstract :
Small, inexpensive GPS-equipped drifters are described for use in natural rivers and streams. The Lagrangian drifters allow for near-continuous position observations providing estimates of the mean flow field, pathways, and dispersion in natural riverine environments. A discussion of limitations and statistical methods is provided. Twenty river drifters were released in clusters in three different reaches on the Skagit River, WA, USA. The results highlight the ease of use and the broad range of information river drifters afford scientists and engineers.
Keywords :
Global Positioning System; hydrological equipment; hydrological techniques; rivers; statistical analysis; GPS equipped drifters; Lagrangian drifters; Skagit River; USA; Washington; near continuous position observations; position tracking drifters; riverine dispersion estimates; riverine environments; riverine mean flow field estimates; riverine mean flow pathway estimates; rivers; statistical methods; streams; Acoustic measurements; Costs; Electronic ballasts; Global Positioning System; Kinematics; Lagrangian functions; Patch antennas; Rivers; Sea measurements; Statistical analysis;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS 2009, MTS/IEEE Biloxi - Marine Technology for Our Future: Global and Local Challenges
Conference_Location :
Biloxi, MS
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4960-6
Electronic_ISBN :
978-0-933957-38-1
