Articles | Volume 23, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3603-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3603-2019
Review article
 | 
04 Sep 2019
Review article |  | 04 Sep 2019

Error in hydraulic head and gradient time-series measurements: a quantitative appraisal

Gabriel C. Rau, Vincent E. A. Post, Margaret Shanafield, Torsten Krekeler, Eddie W. Banks, and Philipp Blum

Data sets

Fig5a rawdata M. Shanafield, E. A. V. Post, G. Rau, E. Banks, P. Blum, and T. Krekeler https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28337.94569

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Short summary
The flow of water is often inferred from water levels and gradients whose measurements are considered trivial despite the many steps and complexity of the instruments involved. We systematically review the four measurement steps required and summarise the systematic errors. To determine the accuracy with which flow can be resolved, we quantify and propagate the random errors. Our results illustrate the limitations of current practice and provide concise recommendations to improve data quality.