Data for Field Evaluation of the Sequoia Scientific LISST-ABS Acoustic Backscatter Sediment Sensor

This dataset summarizes various sedimentary data from ten U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) surface water sites across the contiguous United States. These sites include: 01648010 Rock Creek at Joyce Road, Washington, DC 05586300 Illinois River at Florence, Illinois 06731000 Cherry Creek below Cherry Creek Lake, Colorado 06807000 Missouri River at Nebraska City, Nebraska 06935965 Missouri River at St. Charles, Missouri 08374550 Rio Grande near Castolon, Texas 08375300 Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village, Big Bend National Park, Texas 09404200 Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, Arizona 11447650 Sacramento River at Freeport, California 12046260 Elwha River at diversion near Port Angeles, Washington The dataset includes suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) data derived from an in-situ acoustic sensor (in milligrams per liter, mg/L), as well as laboratory-analyzed SSC data from discrete, physical samples (in mg/L), turbidity data collected from optical sensors (in Formazin Nephelometric Units, FNU), percentage of fines data (percent fines, %), and depth below the surface of the river (in meters) where physical samples were collected for select sites. The in-situ SSC data were determined using Sequoia Scientific’s LISST-ABS, a submersible acoustic sensor that measures acoustic backscatter at a point within a river or stream cross-section. The LISST-ABS emits an acoustic signal and measures the relative strength of the backscatter (the acoustic energy scattered by sediment back toward the signal source) which is converted from decibels to a concentration reading in milligrams per liter.