Stream Power

Stream power is use to estimate how we can secure river beds and banks against erosion and protect our infrastructure.

Stream power is defined as:

\( \Omega = \rho \cdot g \cdot Q \cdot S \)

\(\Omega\) : stream power (per meter) \([\frac{kg \cdot m \cdot m^{3} \cdot m}{m^{3} \cdot s^{2} \cdot s \cdot m} = \frac{W}{m}]\)

\(\rho\) : density \([\frac{kg}{m^{3}}]\) (\(\approx 1000 \frac{kg}{m^{3}}\))

\(g\) : gravitational acceleration \([\frac{m}{s^{2}}]\) (\(\approx 9.81 \frac{m}{s^{2}}\))

\(Q\) : fluid flux \([\frac{m^{3}}{s}]\)

\(S\) : channel slope \([\frac{m}{m}]\)

Since \(\rho\) and \(g\) are more or less constant (at least for our purposes), we can have a look at a 3D plot and see how \(Q\) and \(S\) affect \(\Omega\):