Water Flow, Current Measurement and Velocity Data Collection

Featured products

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling System RS5

SonTek-RS5

Acoustic doppler current profiling system

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river discharge measurement system

SonTek-M9

River discharge measurement system

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acoustic doppler velocimeter flowtracker2

SonTek FlowTracker2 Handheld-ADV

Wading discharge measurement instrument

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water velocity and level monitoring system

SonTek-SL Series

Water velocity and level monitor

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Featured video

SonTek ADCP Video Training Series

Welcome to our comprehensive ADCP video training series, "Guide to Collecting Discharge Data with a SonTek ADCP"! Whether you're a seasoned hydrologist or just starting in the field, this series is your go-to resource for mastering the art of accurate discharge data collection using SonTek ADCP technology. Each video is designed to provide concise and practical guidance, allowing you to navigate the complexities of ADCP measurements with ease.

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Measurement & monitoring solutions

wading discharge flowtracker2

Wading
discharge

In the field, precision matters.

The FlowTracker2 with pressure sensor automatically measures water depth, enabling faster, more accurate discharge data collection—even in changing conditions.

Join Dr. Xue Fan, SonTek Senior Application Engineer, to see how this upgrade saves time and boosts confidence in your data.

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continuous monitoring water volocity iq series

Continuous
monitoring

IQ Plus vs Pipe: What’s the Difference?

Join Product Manager Dr. Daniel Ritter as he breaks down when to use the SonTek-IQ Standard or Plus vs the IQ Pipe.

Whether you're working in open channels or closed conduits, this quick overview highlights key differences in design and performance—so you can choose the right tool for your site.

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climate science water discharge measurement

Climate
science

Five years after a daring NASA-funded expedition to the Greenland Ice Sheet melt zone, new research builds on groundbreaking findings.

Using tools like the SonTek-M9, scientists tracked meltwater with floating drifters, sonic sensors, and round-the-clock fieldwork under constant daylight.

Join scientist Larry Smith—then at UCLA, now at Brown University—as he revisits the challenges and discoveries from this bold study.

Visit the Ice Sheet

adv acoustic doppler velocimeter

ADV
insight

New to the SonTek FlowTracker2? Get precise discharge measurements with ease!

Join Jessica Latzko as she shares 5 essential tips to help you get the most accurate data from the start.

From site selection to real-time feedback, these pro tips will save you time and improve your results. Watch now and measure like a pro!

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irrigation canal monitoring

Irrigation
operations

Avoid guesswork and costly mistakes in your canal monitoring setup—like inaccurate data, water loss, or inefficient irrigation that impacts crop yield.

SonTek’s Dylan Bedortha walks you through smart solutions for updating outdated equipment or optimizing your current water flow monitoring system.

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hydrologist measure velocity discharge flood water

Customer
success

After years of severe drought, California has been hit with intense rainfall, prompting hydrologists to respond with tools that measure velocity and discharge to support accurate flood modeling.

This video, shared by the Ventura Watershed Management District, highlights how smart instrumentation is helping prepare for future flood events.

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consult a water discharge and velocity monitoring expert

Blog & featured stories

high water flow monitoring prado dam
Blog Post

Optical Flow Proves Crucial in High Water Flow at Prado Dam

Accurately monitoring flow in rivers, streams, and canals can be tough—especially in challenging site conditions where traditional methods fall short.

Complex flow patterns and hydraulics demand smarter solutions. This story explores new, innovative non-contact technology for measuring discharge — designed to improve data accuracy and keep people safe during extreme weather events.

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water flow monitoring protecting tijuana river
Blog Post

Protecting the Tijuana River Estuary

The Tijuana River, once a seasonal flow into a thriving estuary, now runs year-round with polluted runoff and, at times, raw sewage—posing risks to ecosystems, local communities, and beachside businesses.

This story explores the growing environmental crisis and how innovative, non-contact monitoring technology is helping scientists better understand the impacts and protect the health of the estuary.

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acoustic discharge measurement blanking screening distance
Tech Talk

Understanding Blanking and Screening Distance

In the world of acoustic discharge measurement, understanding the difference between blanking distance and screening distance is key to collecting accurate velocity data.

This explainer breaks down the physics behind these terms and shows how adjusting screening distance can help eliminate flow disturbances and improve your discharge results.

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All about SonTek

We manufacture affordable, reliable Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling (ADCP) instrumentation for water velocity measurement in oceans, rivers, lakes, harbors, estuaries, and laboratories. Our instruments use sound waves to tell you how fast water is moving, where it is moving, and even if it is not.

Our customers are scientists, engineers, hydrologists, research associates, water resource planners, and anyone needing to collect velocity, flow, or discharge data in every body of water imaginable.

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Events & webinars

top questions adcp customers sontek webinar

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of our comprehensive "Back to Basic” SonTek ADCP river discharge training video.

adcp training data integrity

Join us for a focused, one-day training designed specifically for irrigation operations and water managers looking to enhance their skills in using Acoustic Doppler Current.

river discharge data from around the globe

As the world reels from increasing climate extremes, this one-hour webinar looks at examples of discharge data collected by SonTek ADCPs in extreme conditions worldwide.