Why Do We Measure the River Flow in Srinagar?

1. Where is Srinagar?

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital in north India, is a city known for its breathtaking natural scenery and heritage. It is situated at roughly 34.09°N latitude and 74.76°E longitude in the center of the Kashmir Valley. Situated amidst the majestic Himalayan and Pir Panjal mountain ranges, Srinagar is characterized by a landscape of serene lakes, green gardens, and meandering rivers. The Jhelum River, one of the major bodies of water of the region, passes through the city, being an important contributing factor in determining its ecology, economy, and culture.

Srinagar culturally and historically possesses a rich legacy of over two millennia. It was always a melting pot of cultures and religions with numerous dynasties having ruled over it, such as Mauryas, Kushans, and Mughals. The city is famous for its unique architecture, and certain buildings like the Shankaracharya Temple, situated on a hill overlooking the city, and the Jama Masjid, one of the pretty mosques with its commanding courtyard and intricate woodwork, are renowned landmarks across the world. Srinagar's Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi, are architectural marvels that display the Mughals' love for nature and beauty. These lawn terraces, fountains, and flowerbeds display a beauty that is thronged with tourists from across the globe. Srinagar is equally renowned for traditional crafts like Pashmina shawl manufacturing, papier - mâché, and carpet making, which are not just key economic activities, but reflections of its very rich culture.

The Jhelum River is Srinagar's lifeblood. It has its source as a spring at Verinag in the Pir Panjal Range and flows in the Kashmir Valley for approximately 725 kilometers before it flows into Pakistan. In Srinagar, the Jhelum River has been at the center of city life for centuries. It was a historic transportation route, through which people and commodities traveled. It was also a source of water for home use, irrigation, and power. The river supported a vibrant fishing industry and was home to various aquatic creatures. But in recent decades, the Jhelum River has been subjected to a vast array of hazards, including heavy water contamination, siltation, and modification of its flow patterns due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, which have raised questions over the water security and environmental balance of the city.

2. How is the River Flow near Srinagar?

Multiple factors regulate the River Flow near Srinagar. Rainfall and snowfall are a significant factor. The Kashmir Valley receives a temperate climate with four clearly defined seasons. During the monsoon season from July through September, the region experiences adequate rain, which contributes to the swell in the Jhelum River. Melting of snow in the spring and summer in the Himalayan and Pir Panjal mountains also contributes to the quantity of water in the river. However, during winter, when it rains heavily as snowfall and temperatures drop drastically, river flow is reduced due to the water freezing at the upper reaches or being stuck as snow. There has been more variable precipitation due to climate change, with some years experiencing heavier monsoon rains resulting in flash floods, and others experiencing prolonged dry spells and less snowmelt, with too little water supply.

The topography and morphology of the landscape also play a crucial role in the formation of flow. The Jhelum River flows through a valley where there exists varied topography. It flows through gorges and steep slopes in its upper portion, which are accountable for creating high - speed flowing water with turbulent flow. When passing through Srinagar, the river becomes broad and develops wider and shallow segments. Riverbed, composed of sand, gravel, and rocks, is eroded and deposited. These cause the changing of the river course over time, creating meander and altering its depth and width. The flow of the river has also been greatly impacted by humans. Urbanization of Srinagar has led to the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure on the riverbanks, which has changed the natural drainage pattern. Increased demand for water for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes has led to excessive - extraction of water from the river. Moreover, disposal of untreated sewage and industrial wastes into the river has polluted the water and even affected the ecological health and flow conditions of the river.

3. How to Observe the River Flow in Srinagar?

Some of the older river flow measurement techniques include the anchored boat technique and the surface drift buoy technique.

The surface drift buoy technique uses a simple technique in which floats are released on the surface of the river, and their movement over a calibrated distance and time is measured. This gives an estimate of the surface flow velocity. This technique, however, has quite serious drawbacks. It is only measuring at the surface, and it may not be accurately representing the flow throughout the whole water column. Also, wind, waves, and other surface disturbances may cause the motion of the buoys to be affected, leading to false measurements.

The anchored boat technique is fixed at a single point in the river. A current meter is subsequently lowered at varying depths into the water to measure the speed of flow. This method gives a more accurate profile of flow at the location. It is, however, time - consuming, labor - intensive, and risky, especially in torrential or turbulent water. Measurement at various points using this method requires a lot of manpower and resources.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) offer a more advanced and affordable alternative. ADCPs are able to measure velocity of water at different depths of the entire water column without physical contact, thus non-invasive. ADCPs are able to generate high-resolution flow profiles quickly, thus sweeping large parts of the river within a short time. Thus, they are extremely suitable to monitor variable and complex river flows in the vicinity of Srinagar.

4. How Does ADCP, Based on the Doppler Principle, Operate?

ADCPs operate on the Doppler principle. They emit acoustic pulses into the water. When these pulses travel through the water, they move through moving particles, such as suspended sediments, plankton, or small animals. When the signals reflect off of these moving particles, the frequency of the returning signals changes according to the particles' speed relative to the ADCP. By analyzing these frequency shifts, the ADCP flow meter can calculate the water's speed at different depths, creating a complete profile of the river flow. This allows for proper measurement of river flow rates, directions, and the overall dynamics of the river and provides valuable information for hydrological research and water resource management.

5. What is Required for High-Quality Measurement of River Flow in Srinagar?

For accurate river current measurement by ADCP profiler in Srinagar, there are certain equipment characteristics needed. Material durability is of prime importance. The ADCP should be capable of withstanding the severe river environment of cold water exposure, varying water temperatures, and potential collision from floating ice and flotsam. High-grade corrosion-resistant materials, such as titanium or specialist polymers, equip the device with robustness and long-term operational capacity within the Srinagar cold climate.

Size and weight are also critical factors. A lighter, more compact ADCP is more readily carried and installed, especially in the frequently difficult - to - reach river reaches near Srinagar. Such portability allows for more diverse data acquisition in different reaches of the river, either upstream in the narrow gorges or inside the city in the wider reaches.

Cost-effectiveness is also a major factor to be weighed in. For Srinagar large-scale or long-term monitoring projects, a cost-effective ADCP with good quality performance is preferable. This allows complete monitoring of the river flow without putting too much of a strain on the finances, thus enabling routine as well as detailed studies of the river's behavior, which is crucial in the effective management of water resources in the region.

6. Choosing the Appropriate Current Measuring Equipment?

Deployment Methods

• Mobile boat ADCP: Best suited for survey, river discharge measurement, and precise flow mapping of the Jhelum River. It can scan long distances within a short time, allowing a person to gather information from different locations and have an overall idea of the river's flow pattern. This method can be ideally used to map the entire length of the river passing through Srinagar and around it.
• Fixed bottom-mounted ADCP: Suitable for long - term continuous monitoring at fixed locations in the river. Once installed on the river bed, it can make measurements for a long time, giving valuable information about long - term trends and changes in the river flow. It is beneficial in probing the annual and seasonal changes in the flow properties of the river.
• Cableway ADCP: If there is a cableway system installed in river sections, a cableway ADCP may be used to quantify flow across the river at a specific point. The process provides accurate and consistent flow measurements at key points in the river, which can be used to calibrate and validate other measurement techniques, thus making the collected data trustworthy.

Working Frequency

Operating frequency of an ADCP sets its range and resolution. A 600 kHz ADCP with a range of 70 meters can be employed in relatively shallow sections of the Jhelum River near Srinagar or to obtain high-resolution measurements in the deep sections where detailed information about the flow is required. A 300 kHz ADCP with a measuring range of as much as 110 meters is more appropriate for deeper areas of the river, especially in the upstream area where the river may be deeper due to the topography. The frequency to utilize is based on the specific conditions of the river and the needs of the measurement, such as the degree of detail needed and the depth of the water column to be measured.

Brand Recommendations

Proven and tried international ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and SonTek are highly reputable for their quality and reliable products utilized in various hydrological researches and monitoring operations. A good alternative at a low cost is the ADCP supplier Chinese company’s "China Sonar Panda ADCP". Made of all - titanium alloy, it possesses superior strength and dependability and is especially well - adapted to withstand the harsh river conditions along Srinagar. It is a "budget ADCP" with high - class performance at budget prices, hence an excellent choice for monitoring the river flow along Srinagar without digging deep into the pockets in terms of equipment costs. To know more, visit https://china-sonar.com/.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.