Introduction

Producing a cross-section of a river channel is a basic river fieldwork skill.

Whether you need to find the discharge, or examine the profile of a feature such as a
meander or riffle, it will be necessary to produce a cross-section of the river.
The first stage is to measure the width and depth of the river. The data gathered can
then be plotted to create a scale diagram of the cross-section, or used to find the
cross-sectional area and wetted perimeter of the river.
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Equipment
! long, waterproof, tapemeasure is needed to find the width of the river.
! rigid meter rule and " or a longer pole, such as a surveying pole, are needed for the
actual depth readings.
t#s not really e$uipment, but if you are wearing a watch, check that it is waterproof
before doing this experiment. %ou will be putting your hands under the water.
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Method
Stream Width
The width of the river must first be found. To do this, a tape measure can be
stretched from one bank to the other at &'( to the course of the river. The start and
finishing points for the measuring are the points at which the dry bank meets the
water. To avoid drag induced by the tape making contact with the flowing water, and
the conse$uent possible increase in distance measured due to the tape being
stretched in to a curve, it should be stretched taught roughly )'cm above water level.
The ends of the measured section should be determined by observation from directly
above the tape at &'( to the ground. *bservation from directly above the tape
ensures that the margin of error is kept at a minimum.
t is possible that the river or stream only occupies part of the whole channel, and
that in flood conditions the river expands and currently dry bank areas become part
of the channel. f you wish to include a prediction of the river#s characteristics when
in flood you will need to also measure the bankfull width.
Bankfull Width
! tape measure should be stretched from one bank to the other at &'( to the course
of the river. The start and finishing points for the measuring are the points where the
vegetation and gradient of the bank suggest that the river has reached its maximum
capacity. f the water were to rise above these points flooding of the surrounding
area would occur. The tape is stretched taught between the measuring points. The
ends of the measured section are determined by observation from directly above the
tape at &'( to the ground. *bservation from directly above the tape ensured that the
margin of error was kept at a minimum.
Water Depth
+aving established the width of the river, the next ,ob is to find it#s depth at regular
intervals across it#s width. The number of readings taken will depend upon the width
of the river and the amount of detail you re$uire. -or most rivers intervals of .'cm
are a good compromise between excessive work and loss of detail.
The tape measure which was stretched from one bank to the other can be used as a
guide to ensure that you take measurements in a straight line. t is also a convenient
way of measuring the intervals between readings.
Taking depth readings with a rigid meter rule.
! rigid meter rule is immersed in the water, every .'cm, until it ,ust touches the bed
of the river. t is held with its edge facing upstream, thus reducing to a minimum the
surface area exposed to the running water. t is necessary to reduce the exposed
surface area for two reasons. -irstly, the water may be flowing $uite rapidly in places
and its force can be sufficient to bend it out of the desired position at &'( to the river
bed. The bend induced in the rule could result in an apparent increase in the depth
being measured. /econdly,the water, upon meeting the face of the rule will form a
bow wave. This pressure wave may result in an increase in measured water depth
upstream of the rule and a decrease in measured depth downstream. By positioning
the rule with its narrowest edge facing into the flow it is most resistant to flexing and
least able to create a bow wave. 0rrors in the readings are thus kept to a minimum.
f the water becomes too deep for a meter rule, a surveying pole or similar item can
be used, the depth marked on it and then measured with a tape.
WARNING1 f the water is so deep that you cannot use a meter rule, think very
carefully about going into the river. *nly go into deep water if you know what you
are doing.
Taking depth readings with a rigid meter rule.
Jim can also use the pole to steady himself against the current.
!lways record each of the depth readings as you take it. 20304 rely on your
memory.
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Calculations
Plotting your data onto graph paper is the same as drawing any other graph, with
one ma,or difference. nstead of measuring values up from 5ero at the bottom of the
graph, you must measure then down from 5ero at the top of the graph. This is
because you are plotting depths that go down from ground level.
+aving drawn your cross-section by #,oining the dots# on your graph you have
created a scale picture of a slice through the river. This diagram can be used to
calculate the cross-sectional area or wetted perimeter of the river, which are needed
to find discharge and channel efficiency.
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