mobile-logo
Stage vs. discharge plot.
22 Apr

Qualified Quality or Uncertain Uncertainty? How Truthful are Your Hydrometric Data?

by Stu Hamilton
in Hydrology
Comments

A recommended read for anyone interested in uncertainty is Keith Beven's (2015) 'Facets of uncertainty: epistemic uncertainty, non-stationarity, likelihood, hypothesis testing, and communication,' (Hydrological Sciences Journal, DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2015.1031761). There are many points that Keith Beven makes that I strongly agree with, but today I would like to focus on one question he uses as a section heading: "Can we talk of confidence rather than uncertainty...

Read More
Burglar sneaking into a room.
14 Jan

Uncertainty Is the Unlocked Back Door Used by Unwanted Surprises

by Stu Hamilton
in Hydrology
Comments

I had the great pleasure of re-connecting with colleagues at the NASH symposia at the AWRA 2014 national conference. There were three well-attended NASH sessions and a panel discussion that were all great starting points for conversations.

One such conversation about discharge measurement uncertainty with Tim Cohn resulted in the statement that is the title of this post. We were discussing the reasons for study into the problem of quantification of discharge measurement uncertainty.

Continue reading
Read More
Data communication tech changes graphic.
18 Jan

Automation for Real-Time Hydrometric Data Production

by Stu Hamilton
in Hydrology
Comments

Results from the 2012 Report - Global Hydrological Monitoring Industry Trends published by Aquatic Informatics Inc. The first Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) was launched in October 1975. The GOES launch initiated a sequence of events leading to a major re-design of hydrometric programs throughout North America. The relatively cheap and reliable data communication provided by GOES provided an immediate benefit for hydrometric operators: to monitor station...

Read More
Jailed Italian scientists.
25 Oct

Mitigating Risk for Risk Mitigation: What L’Aquila Means for Water Monitoring

by Stu Hamilton
in Hydrology
Comments

On October 22, 2012, six Italian scientists and a government official were sentenced to 6 years in jail, given lifetime bans on holding public office, and ordered to pay compensation of €7.8m in connection with the L’Aquila earthquake. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake injured over 1,000 people and resulted in 300 deaths. The judgment was based on statements made at a press conference following an emergency...

Read More
Mickey Mouse balloon.
14 Aug

A Symbol of Independence – Plotting Discharge & Mickey Mouse

by Stu Hamilton
in Hydrology
Comments

“Mickey Mouse is, to me, a symbol of independence. He was a means to an end.” – Walt Disney Why is it that in hydrometry, specifically with regards to plotting rating curves, that the dependent variable (discharge) is commonly plotted on the abscissa (x axis) and the independent variable (stage) is plotted on the ordinate (y axis)? This practice is contrary to mathematical convention and is...

Read More
22 Nov

Central Services – New software for the Water Survey of Canada

by Ed Quilty
in Business
Comments

“Annual data doesn’t help Saskatchewan or Winnipeg when there’s a flood event happening— we need to provide data to our customers instantaneously.” —AJ Leitch Policies that protect our water are borne, in part, of good water monitoring. The process generally involves visiting a monitoring site once or twice a year, collecting the data from the sensors, and returning to the lab to analyze it, generate a report,...

Read More