Estimating suspended sediment in rivers using acoustic Doppler meters
April 22, 2014
Key Points
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009) estimates that excessive sediment is the leading cause of water-quality impairment in water bodies in the United States. The cost of damages attributable to sediment is high, estimated at more than $20 billion annually (Osterkamp and others, 2004).
- Sediment monitoring is essential to informed solutions to sediment-related issues. However, sediment monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has decreased considerably over the past quarter century.
- New techniques that make use of acoustic backscatter have shown great potential for accurately and cost-effectively estimating suspended-sediment concentrations.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009) estimates that excessive sediment is the leading cause of water-quality impairment in water bodies in the United States. The cost of damages attributable to sediment is high, estimated at more than $20 billion annually (Osterkamp and others, 2004).
- Sediment monitoring is essential to informed solutions to sediment-related issues. However, sediment monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has decreased considerably over the past quarter century.
- New techniques that make use of acoustic backscatter have shown great potential for accurately and cost-effectively estimating suspended-sediment concentrations.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Title | Estimating suspended sediment in rivers using acoustic Doppler meters |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs20143038 |
| Authors | Molly S. Wood |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Fact Sheet |
| Series Number | 2014-3038 |
| Index ID | fs20143038 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Office of Surface Water |