Analysis of USGS Discharge and Channel Geometry Gage Data

Andrew Wilcox

University of Montana

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This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process. This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.

Initial Publication Date: May 29, 2008

Summary

Analysis of USGS peak flow and streamflow measurements (velocity, channel geometry) data.

Fluvial, Floods/Fluvial Processes | Graduate/Professional

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Context

Audience

Graduate course in fluvial geomorphology, also would be appropriate for advanced undergraduate geomorphology course.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Spreadsheets

How the activity is situated in the course

As part of sequence of exercises; students also are collecting and analyzing field data near the USGS gaging station used in this assignment.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This assignment entails analysis of USGS gaging station data, including flood frequency analysis based on simple calculations of recurrence interval and Log-Pearson III methods, as well as analysis of channel geometry data(construction of rating curves, inferences about channel form based on width-depth ratio data).
Designed for a geomorphology course
Uses online and/or real-time data