Description
Subtract nonnegative startStorage from endStorage and divide storageDelta by positive referenceSurfaceArea for equivalentDepth.
A water balance tracks additions, withdrawals, storage changes, and a residual over one declared interval. A remainder can reveal inconsistency without identifying whether it came from leakage, timing, or measurement error.
Subtract nonnegative startStorage from endStorage and divide storageDelta by positive referenceSurfaceArea for equivalentDepth.
When to use this tool
Use Reservoir Storage Difference Depth when you need one transparent water-volume or storage-accounting component.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter startStorage, endStorage, referenceSurfaceArea. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read storageDelta, equivalentDepth. Use the output convention below.
Subtract nonnegative startStorage from endStorage and divide storageDelta by positive referenceSurfaceArea for equivalentDepth.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| startStorage | Start Storage | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| endStorage | End Storage | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| referenceSurfaceArea | Reference Surface Area | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| storageDelta | Storage Delta | Required. Finite number. |
| equivalentDepth | Equivalent Depth | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"startStorage": 100,
"endStorage": 140,
"referenceSurfaceArea": 20
},
"output": {
"storageDelta": 40,
"equivalentDepth": 2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Use coherent volume and area units; this is depth on a fixed reference area, not a nonlinear reservoir level conversion.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Reconcile all flows and storage observations on a common interval and investigate residuals using independent measurements.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Reservoir Level Area Storage Term
Use currentLevel-referenceLevel as height change.
- Reservoir Layer Storage Increment
Average nonnegative lowerArea and upperArea and multiply by nonnegative heightDifference for storageIncrement.