Field Observation of Flow in the Karun River

This study represented results of the in-situ measurements of flow in the Karun River for a period of one-month length in the spring season. The measurements were carried out in a station with average depth of 5 m, located approximately 120km distance from the northern head of the Persian Gulf. It was aimed to improve our understanding of flow hydrodynamics in the Karun River. Spectral analysis of current showed a high energy in tidal frequencies which represent the tidal influence on this station. Unexpected, results from the field work show that the the maximum measured flow was 70.6 cm/s in seaward direction, coincidence with neap tide. It was due to the high level of river discharge. In this period, the most important reasons for the change flow direction were identified to be tide and river discharge fluctuation .Also, it is worth to mention that Harmonic Analysis of water level varations introduces M2, K1and O1 as the main tidal constituents with dominant of semi-diurnal tide at the location of observation