The Use of Position-Tracking Drifters in Riverine Environments

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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA527366

Entities

People

  • Jamie MacMahan
  • William Swick

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Algorithms
  • Convergence
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Crossings
  • Data Science
  • Deployment
  • Flow Fields
  • Geographic Coordinate Systems
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Information Science
  • Measurement
  • Shape
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Underwater Acoustics

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space