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In situ densimetric measurements as a surrogate for suspended-sediment concentrations in the Rio Puerco, New Mexico
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Brown, Jeb E. Gray, John R. Hornewer, Nancy J. |
| Copyright Year | 2015 |
| Abstract | Surrogate measurements of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) are increasingly used to provide continuous, high-resolution, and demonstrably accurate data at a reasonable cost. Densimetric data, calculated from the difference between two in situ pressure measurements, exploit variations in real-time streamflow densities to infer SSCs. Unlike other suspendedsediment surrogate technologies based on bulk or digital optics, laser, or hydroacoustics, the accuracy of SSC data estimated using the pressure-difference (also referred to as densimetric) surrogate technology theoretically improves with increasing SCCs. Coupled with streamflow data, continuous suspended-sediment discharges can be calculated using SSC data estimated in real-time using the densimetric technology. The densimetric technology was evaluated at the Rio Puerco in New Mexico, a stream where SSC values regularly range from 10,000-200,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and have exceeded 500,000 mg/L. The constant-flow dual-orifice bubbler measures pressure using two precision pressure-transducer sensors at vertically aligned fixed locations in a water column. Water density is calculated from the temperature-compensated differential pressure and SSCs are inferred from the density data. A linear regression model comparing density values to field-measured SSC values yielded an R2 of 0.74. Although the application of the densimetric surrogate is likely limited to fluvial systems with SSCs larger than about 10,000 mg/L, based on this and previous studies, the densimetric technology fills a void for monitoring streams with high SSCs. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://water.usgs.gov/fisp/research/2015JebBrownDensiometric/Brown_SEDHYD_2015_Densiometric.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://acwi.gov/sos/pubs/3rdJFIC/Contents/7B-Brown.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
