Monitoring suspended sediment dynamics using MBES

Stephen M. Simmons, Daniel R. Parsons, James L. Best, Oscar Orfeo, Stuart N. Lane, Ray Kostaschuk, Richard J. Hardy, Geraint West, Chris Malzone, Jon Marcus, Pawel Pocwiardowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This technical note describes use of a multibeam echosounder (MBES) to quantify the dynamics of suspended sediment in a large open channel. A methodology is detailed that uses the backscatter magnitude from the MBES water-column data to adjust the magnitude of sonar returns for the various sonar settings, spatially and temporally average the data to account for the random nature of acoustic backscatter from the suspended sediment, and calibrate the processed data with direct samples. A case study of flow at the confluence of the Rio Paraná and Rio Paraguay, Argentina, where there is a distinct turbidity difference along the mixing interface of the two flows, is used to demonstrate the unique capabilities of MBES to quantify sediment concentrations and dynamics within the water column.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number005001QHY
Pages (from-to)45-49
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume136
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • Acoustic backscatter
  • Fluid mixing
  • Multibeam echo sonar
  • Sediment transport
  • Suspended sediment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering

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