Variable head meters use different principles and designs to measure fluid flow velocity or discharge rate. Pitot tubes use stagnation pressure to measure flow velocity. They consist of a bent glass tube placed in flow, where the height of liquid rise indicates stagnation pressure head. Orifice meters measure flow rate using a differential manometer and the pressure drop across an orifice plate. Venturi meters also use differential pressure but have a converging-diverging nozzle shape to reduce head losses. Weirs and notches are open channel flow measurement devices where flow rate correlates to upstream water depth. Flumes are specially designed open channels also used for flow measurement.