Differing field methods and site conditions lead to varying bias in suspended sediment concentrations in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers.

ABSTRACT: At sites that have been sampled for decades, changes in field and laboratory methods happen over time as instrumentation and protocols improve. Here, we compare the influence of depth- and point-integrated sampling on total, fine (< 0.0625 mm), and coarse (≥ 0.0625 mm) suspended sediment (SS) concentrations in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Using historical field method information, we identified seven sites to test such differences. We found SS samples collected using point-integration tended to have higher concentrations than those collected using depth-integration. However, the presence and magnitude of the bias were inconsistent across sites. Bias was present at the site with less-than-ideal conditions (i.e., non-trapezoidal channel, non-uniform flow) and non-existent at

SUBMITTER: Murphy J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10749891 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature