Discharge Measurement for a Part of Lesser Zab River by Using Georadar and Current Meter at Klesa of Erbil, NE Iraq

Abstract

A Ground Penetrating Radar for bathymetry and water current velocity was used to estimate the discharge value of Lesser Zab River at Klesa station with coordinates (35º 53’ 08.21′′ N, 44º 35′ 35.90′′ E). Two traverses were taken across the river which represented two sites in Klesa area which were (A-B) traverse with the coordinates (N 3970652 and E 491898), and (C-D) traverse with the coordinates (N 3972195 and E 487681). Measuring water flow rate by velocity area method was done by Mid-section method, to confirm the validity of the data; two sections were conducted for each of the two traverses to deduce two radargrams along the profiles (A-B) and (D-C). The radargrams drew by using sophisticated software and were very helpful in detecting the river floor topography and depth variation along both profiles, the distance between the two sites was 5 km. The results indicate that the maximum width of the river at stations is 36.5m and the maximum water depth of Lesser Zab River is 4.75m, maximum velocity is 1.88 m/s. The water flow rate deviates from 136.737m3/s to 147.23m3/s. The average discharge for Lesser Zab river = 141.983 m3/s. This discharge is under normal average because the data was taken in November 2019. Because of the mild weather and the lack of electricity consumption, so using these results in water resource management and planning for satisfying domestic consumption, irrigation, industrial consumption, …etc. in the Klesa area, will be economically beneficial for the water management policy of the country.