Enter the discharge, coefficient, and exponent into the calculator to determine the stage height of a river or stream. The stage height is the water level above some arbitrary point, often related to the riverbed or streambed.
Stage Height Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the stage height:
H = C * Q^e
Variables:
- H is the stage height (feet)
- C is the coefficient (no units)
- Q is the discharge (cubic feet per second)
- e is the exponent (no units)
To calculate the stage height, multiply the coefficient by the discharge raised to the power of the exponent.
What is Stage Height?
Stage height is a measure of the water level in a river or stream above a reference point, which is often the bottom of the riverbed or streambed. It is an important metric for hydrologists and environmental scientists as it helps to predict flooding, manage water resources, and understand the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems.
How to Calculate Stage Height?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Stage Height.
- First, determine the discharge (Q) in cubic feet per second.
- Next, determine the coefficient (C) which is a constant for a given river or stream cross-section.
- Next, determine the exponent (e) which is also a constant for the river or stream cross-section.
- Next, gather the formula from above = H = C * Q^e.
- Finally, calculate the Stage Height (H) in feet.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
discharge (Q) = 500 cubic feet per second
coefficient (C) = 0.4
exponent (e) = 0.5
