Using Turbidity as a Surrogate for Estimating Suspended Sediment Concentration and Discharge
Webinar Overview
Two laboratory analytical methods — suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) and total suspended solids (TSS) are predominantly used to quantify concentrations of suspended sediment in surface waters. These two terms are often erroneously used interchangeably, but using the TSS method instead of SSC for surface waters can produce considerably different results and negatively affect the successful assessment and remediation of sediment-impaired waters.
In the second installment of his turbidity webinar series, Larry Freeman discusses the use of continuous, in situ turbidity data as a surrogate for SSC to improve the accuracy and comparability of suspended sediment concentration in surface water.
- Definition of Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) and why records of SSC and Suspended Sediment Discharge are important.
- The basics of how SSC sample data are collected and analyzed.
- Consideration for Turbidity Probe Selection, Site Selection, and Probe Location.
- The basic process for generating estimated SSC values from a Turbidity Record and computing Suspended Sediment.
- Suspended Sediment Discharge from the SSC estimates.
- The state of turbidity sensor technology.
This webinar will cover content relevant to the following industries:
- Government agencies with responsibilities related to:
- Regulatory compliance and program oversight
- Watershed management
- Fishery services
- Climate change research
- Cooperative monitoring agencies
- Boating and waterways
- Dredging
- Source water protection
- Wastewater/Drinking water treatment
- Environmental protection
- Watershed management
Presenter: Larry Freeman
Larry Freeman is the owner of Freeman Hydrologic Data Services. He retired from the USGS after 36 years prior to establishing his consulting firm in May 2015. The last 17 years he served as the Field Office Chief for the Salinas, then Marina, and finally the Santa Cruz offices in California. He holds a Level 3 Hydrologic Technician Water Quality Certification (Sediment focus) from the American Institute of Hydrology. He was recently appointed to serve on the Soquel Creek Water District Supplemental Water Supply Committee. He has extensive experience with data program management as well as technical expertise with instrumentation, field data collection protocols, and records computation of streamflow, fluvial sediment transport, and ground-water-level monitoring. He has several publications in these disciplines and was a regular instructor for several USGS training classes for many years.