Glossary of Important Stage-Discharge Relationship Terms

Discharge:

measurement of the flow volume per unit time, generally reported in cubic feet per second (cfs or ft³/sec), or cubic meters per second (cms or m³/sec)

Flowrate:

measurement of the flow volume per unit time, generally reported in cubic feet per second (cfs or ft³/sec), or cubic meters per second (cms or m³/sec)

Stage:

water surface elevation above an arbitrary datum, generally measured in feet (ft) or meters (m)