How do you calculate the volume of a basin?

Answer 1

The volume of the basin is the integral of the areas of each stratum at successive depths from the surface to the point of maximum depth. The volume is closely approximated by plotting the areas of contours, as closely spaced as possible, against depth. the integrated area of this curve corresponds to basin volume. Alternatively, the volume can be estimated by summation of the frusta of a series of truncated cones of the strata:

V=(h/3)*(A1+A2+...+SQRT(A1*A2*...))

where h is the vertical depth of the stratum, A1 the area of the upper surface, and A2 the area of the lower surface of the stratum whose volume is to be determined.