New study reveals accuracy of streamflow measurements crucial for water management.
The article examines how accurately and precisely streamflow can be measured in small streams during low flow periods. The researchers analyzed measurements taken in 31 different areas and found a precision error of ±5.0%. The accuracy of the measurements compared to a reference streamflow ranged from 0.7% to 45.6%, with a median of 6.1%. These results show that streamflow measurements in small streams are similar in precision and accuracy to those in larger streams, which can help improve water resource management and modeling of rainfall-runoff in headwater streams.