Prediction of river discharges at confluences based on Entropy theory and surface-velocity measurements

Abstract

Hydrodynamic features of the confluence zone of large rivers are complicated because of their three-dimensional flow structure. The confluence between the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões, characterised by black and white waters, respectively, ranks among the largest river junctions on Earth. An Entropy-based investigation was carried out to assess the discharge and analyse the 2D structure of velocity distribution for large river flows relying on monitoring of near-surface velocity only. The estimated flow data where compared with in-situ ADCP data gathered across some transects of the Negro and Solimões rivers during both low and relatively high flow conditions. Results are illustrated through some transects at the confluence zone, upstream and downstream of the zone and in the Careiro Channel. Comparisons highlight that the Entropy-based flow velocity in terms of depth-averaged velocity, cross-sectional mean flow velocity and vertical velocity distributions, starting from the measured surface velocity, is in agreement with those determined by the ADCP measurements, with an error in mean flow velocity and discharge lower than 15%. The research highlights the potential of the Entropy method to estimate the discharge and velocity in very large rivers just relying on near-surface velocities monitoring.