The use of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler technology to quantify total suspended solids under ice

The measurement of total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations through water quality monitoring programs is laborious, costly, and time-intensive. Winter conditions further hinder water quality monitoring programs. The use of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) is currently being explored as a surrogate for estimating total suspended solids concentrations. TSS concentration and ADCP measurements were collected during the winter at the Lower Nelson River and the Red River such that ADCP backscatter data could be calibrated to TSS concentrations. Different calibration schemes were pursued, some involving flow parameters determined from ADCP data, in order to accurately model the data. Due to limited ranges in the data, further TSS concentration and ADCP measurements were taken during the open water period. Calibrations were achieved with varying degrees of accuracy, however the they failed to perform well beyond the ranges for which they were developed.