Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

We are seeking funding to purchase equipment that measures river "discharge", which is commonly known as river "flow". River discharge is a fundamental parameter in the field of water sciences and is recognized as an "Essential Climate Variable" by the United Nations. Typically, river discharge is estimated based on the river water level, and these estimates are often unreliable, especially during the winter season. Therefore, for rigorous scientific studies, it is essential to directly measure river discharge in the field. We will use these direct measurements to develop new tools and guidelines used by engineers and scientists in Canada and other cold regions so that we can: (1) predict and prepare for ice-jam flooding, (2) improve design decisions for water infrastructure (bridge piers, dam spillways, water intakes and sewer outfalls) in cold regions, (3) improve our understanding and accounting of how much water Canada has available for people to use and to maintain ecosystems, and (4) improve our ability to predict how water pollutants move in ice-affected waters and impact aquatic organisms. To achieve these goals, we are requesting $149,102 to purchase an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) instrument and essential state-of-the-art accessories. This new ADCP will replace an obsolete instrument that was initially acquired by the Water Resources Engineering Group at the University of Alberta over two decades ago. The old equipment played a crucial role in training numerous Highly Qualified Personnel. The new ADCP will allow us to continue cutting-edge research in water resources engineering and offers new, advanced capabilities to measure discharge in remote areas where traditional equipment is too expensive to deploy. This proposed equipment is pivotal to the success of six ongoing or upcoming research programs and will support the training of a diverse team of 48 Highly Qualified Personnel over the next five years. The proposed instrument is expected to support cutting-edge research and training at the University of Alberta for many years to come.