In situ measurement of particle size in estuarine waters
Abstract
A novel approach to particle sizing in estuarine waters using a submersible laser diffraction instrument is described. In situ measurements with this instrument are rapid and avoid both the physical disruption of fragile aggregates with pumping and the settlement of larger particles in isolated samples which interfere with currently available sizing techniques. Measurements of the size distributions of suspended particle populations in the Tamar Estuary using this apparatus are compared with measurements carried out on discrete samples obtained from the same depth by pumping. The results confirm the fragile nature of estuarine aggregates and the necessity for in situ measurements in studies of estuarine suspended particle dynamics and fluxes.
- Publication:
-
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
- Pub Date:
- February 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0272-7714(87)90068-0
- Bibcode:
- 1987ECSS...24..253B