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We have upgraded our mobile monitoring system for deep-water deployment. we have first test deployed this upgraded system in the WestPoint, NY on August 22, 2011. The color-coded line on the interactive Google map below displays the actual transect route of the cruise made from WestPoint, NY to New Hamburgh, NY.

The route line displayed in the above figure correlates with the horizontal color-coding along the top and bottom of each figures presented below. This kind of representation helps to match the observed data with the location of measurements. In addition, the solid black line in each of the figures below represents the river-bed profile.

The optical oxygen sensor is uses optical fluorescence technology to detect the amount of oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen is an important indicator of ecological health. Red means low concentration of oxygen, blue means higher concentration of oxygen.

Vertical profile of dissolved oxygen along the cruise transect route shown above

Salinity is an indicator of the amount of salt present in the water. Red means high salt water concentration whereas blue means low salt water concentration i.e., fresher water.

Conductivity is also an indicator of the amount of salt present in the water but expressed in different unit (μs/cm) than salinity (psu). Red means high salt water concentration whereas blue means low salt water concentration i.e., fresher water.

Vertical profile of conductivity along the cruise transect route shown above

In this figure, red indicates warmer water, while blue indicates colder water. Water temperature can vary with the tide and time of day.

Vertical profile of water temperature along the cruise transect route shown above

Total Particle concentration is a measurement of total amount of organic and inorganic particles presence in unit volume of water column. A strong current in either direction can move water and particles from bottom, and can also bring up particles from the ocean, as concentration can change with tidal forces. Normally the particle concentration is expected to be greater at bottom of the river, and less dense at the upper portions of the water column.

Vertical profile of total particle concentration along the cruise transect route shown above

A three-channel flurometer (BBFL2) is a unique instrument that provides data on the presence of biological, physical and chemical particles in the water. Optical backscatter (OBS) measured by BBFL2 provides an indirect measure of the particle concentration in the water column. OBS has been calibrated in our laboratory for determination of relationship between OBS and total particle concentration based on a suspension of clay particles. However, the actual relationship between OBS and particle concentration depends on the size distribution and composition of the particles under examination, so the particle concentration reported by this sensor can be different from that measured by particle sizer (i.e., LISST-100X). Red-colored in the figure below represent higher particle concentration whereas blue-colored represent lower particle concentration.

Vertical profile of flurometer-measured particle concentration along the cruise transect route shown above

Particle size distribution

The following figures display particle size distribution along the cruise transect. Magnitude of particle concentration is presented here in color-coded shaded surface. The red color means higher concentration whereas blue color means lower concentration. Height of the surface also represents magnitude of particle concentration.

North Component of Water Current

The ADCP is measuring the speed and direction of the river’s current in meters per second. The figure below presents vertical profile of north component of water current along the transect route of the cruise. Positive north component velocity magnitude indicates that water is moving up the river to the north, i.e. high tide.

Vertical profile of North component of water current (cm/s) along the cruise transect route shown above

The ADCP is measuring the speed and direction of the river’s current in meters per second. The figure below presents vertical profile of east component of water current. Positive east component velocity magnitude indicates that water is moving towards east direction.

Vertical profile of East component of water current (cm/s) along the cruise transect route shown above

Vertical Component of Water Current

The ADCP is measuring the speed and direction of the river’s current in meters per second. The figure below presents vertical profile of upward component of water current. Positive velocity magnitude indicates that water is moving upward whereas the negative means water is moving downward.

Vertical profile of Upward component of water current (cm/s) along the cruise transect route shown above

Acoustic Backscatter Intensity

This figure displays the vertical profile of acoustic backscatter intensity along the transect route of the cruise. The dark red shows the higher acoustic backscatter intensity, whereas blue shows lower acoustic backscatter intensity. Once this measured raw acoustic backscatter intensity has been adjusted for the attenuation of sound intensity with distance, the higher backscatter intensity indicates higher particle concentration whereas lower acoustic backscatter intensity indicates lower particle concentration.