Automatic, Continuous River Stage Measurement with a Millimeter-Wave FM- CW Radar

• Main Authors: Yankielun, Norbert E., Ferrick, Michael G.
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Hydrology; Limnology and Potamology; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Active & Passive Radar Detection & Equipment; *CONTINUOUS WAVE RADAR; *RIVERS; *ICE BREAKUP; SIGNAL PROCESSING; MEASUREMENT; WATER FLOW; REAL TIME; ACCURACY; COLD REGIONS; MILLIMETER WAVES; RADAR; HIGH RESOLUTION; SURVEYS; BROADBAND; SAFETY; RELEASE; DATA ACQUISITION; GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS; FLOODING; BRIDGES; STREAMS; DAMS; CONNECTICUT RIVER; PE62784A; WUE01; AST42; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA276508; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA276508

River stage measurements at many locations are fundamental for the analysis of dynamic events on rivers, including ice breakup. But, these data are frequently unavailable. A high-resolution, broadband millimeter-wave (26.5 to 40 GHz) Frequency Modulated-Continuous Wave (FM-CW) radar, with real-time data acquisition and digital signal processing capability, was mounted from fixed locations on bridges over the Connecticut River to continuously acquire, process, store and display river stage data during controlled releases of water from a hydropower dam. The radar system provided continuous stage data of accuracy comparable to those acquired by a survey team and a permanent U.S. Geological Survey stream gauging station. The system can be rapidly installed and is capable of acquiring data, including event timing, at l-, 10- or 60- second intervals, around-the-clock, without operator interaction or visual readings. The system sensor can be remotely mounted and monitored, thereby minimizing safety hazards to personnel using direct measurement techniques. Cold regions, Millimeter-wave radar, River stage measurements, Breakup, Radar instrumentation, FM-CW Radar, River ice.