YSI SonTek FlowTracker Quick Start Manual page 2

Measuring discharge - Procedure
Select a site with reasonable uniform bottom conditions
that may be safely waded (typically no more than 1-m
deep). String a graduated tag line across the river
perpendicular to the riverbanks.
Start at one edge and enter the starting edge location and
water depth. Divide the river cross-section into a number
of stations appropriate for its width. In the above diagram,
the river has start (Loc ) and end (Loc
0
stations (marked Loc to Loc
1
At each station, the operator enters the station location
and water depth and measures the velocity at one or more
depths. A variety of measurement methods are supported
using measurements at different depths, including:
 0.6 * Depth
 0.2 and 0.8 * Depth
 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8 * Depth
 Kreps (surface and 0.62 * Depth)
 5-point (surface, bottom, and 0.2/0.6/0.8 * Depth)
 Multi-point method (any number of points at user
specified depths)
During the entire measurement, the probe's X-axis must
be maintained perpendicular to the tag line. The probe
should be held away from underwater obstacles that may
disturb the flow. Do not turn the FlowTracker into the
direction of flow, as it will automatically account for flow
direction when making discharge measurements.
Graduated Tag Line
Y
X
Probe
Coordinate System
Mounting
Pin
Orient the FlowTracker perpendicular to the tagline
Velocity data is recorded once per second for the entire
Averaging Time, and then averaged to compute the mean
velocity. Quality control data is also reviewed and
displayed; you will be alerted to any unexpected values. If
the velocity measurement is found to be unsatisfactory,
you should repeat the measurement.
Based on the depth, station width, and mean velocity, the
discharge for a station is calculated. The total discharge is
the sum of all station and edge discharge values.
Starting the discharge measurement
Turn the FlowTracker on. Press
Main Menu. Press 1 to enter the Setup Parameters Menu.
At the Setup Parameters Menu, review the current settings
and change the values to meet your requirements. To
change a displayed value, press the number next to the
relevant parameter. Press
options. For example: Press
Menu to change the Averaging Time.
) edges with 11
12
) in between.
11
Primary Flow
Direction
Sampling
Volume
ENTER to display the
ENTER to display more menu
2 in the Setup Parameters
The defaults for these parameters are:
Units: English Averaging Time: 40 seconds
Mode: Discharge Salinity: 0.0 ppt (freshwater)
Discharge Equation: Mid Section
When you are finished, press
Menu. Now press 2 to enter the System Functions Menu.
Field-testing the FlowTracker
Some general tips at the System Functions Menu:
 Collect and verify temperature data (press 4).
 Check battery voltage (press 5).
 Collect and verify raw data. Ideally, SNR values
should be >10 dB, but 4 dB is acceptable (press 6).
 Verify the internal clock is correct (press 9).
When you are done, press
Enter site information
Press 3 to Start Data Run and display the Data File Name
Menu. Press 1 and enter a file name. To enter text names,
use the same method as mobile phones (e.g., press
times for "C"; 2–A–B–C). Now press
At any time during data collection, press
enter supplemental data including gauge height, rated
flow, and user comments.
Collect station data
In the Starting Edge screen, enter the location, depth,
correction factor, and starting edge using the marked
buttons on the keypad. Note that LEW/REW stands for
Left/Right Edge Water. Press
Enter the location, depth, and method of measuring
velocity (changed by pressing
station information is complete, and the probe is at the
correct depth and orientation, press the
An updating display will show the measured velocity and
SNR values. Keep the probe as steady as possible. On
completion of the averaging time, a summary will be
displayed. Press 1 to accept and go to the next station or
depth, or press 2 to repeat this measurement. These steps
will be repeated for all stations until
pressed.
Ending the measurement
When End Section is pressed, the ending-edge
information is displayed. Enter the information for this
edge. The Previous Station
also be pressed to review completed stations. Press
Discharge to compute the total cross-sectional discharge
for all completed stations. Press
Menu. You must always return to the Main Menu to make
sure that all data is saved.
0 to return to the Main
0 to return to the Main Menu.
9 to accept the name.
8 (QC Menu) to
Next Station to continue.
Method +/-). When the
Measure button.
End Section is
and Next Station buttons can
0 to return to the Main
2 four
Calc