Author(s): Paul F. Hamblin

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Abstract: Public concern for possible contamination of the biota of the upper estuary of theSt.Lawrence River,particularly the larger species such as eels and beluga whaleshas motivated studies of the transport and fate of trace metals and organiccontaminants.Suspended sediments play a crucial role in the partitioning betweenthe dissolved and particulate phases of contaminants. For example,it has beenfound that the region of high suspended sediment concentration known as theturbidity maximum has a profound influence upon the distributions of total iron,manganese,and cobalt through adsorption-desorption processes.The St.Lawrenceestuary is one of the most complex water bodies known owing to its complicatedbathymetry,vigorous tidal currents and turbulent mixing and massive freshwaterinput.Its large scale(500 by 20 km)and rapid temporal variation(semi-diurnal)present a challenging sampling problem for such conventional methods formeasurement of suspended sediment concentration as water sample casts and pumpedsampling.The impetus behind this study is to investigate more effective methodsof sediment sampling and transport measurement in estuaries based on remote sensingprinciples and to apply the remote sensing method to the measurement for the firsttime of the tidally averaged sediment flux and transport across the estuary.Limitations of the method are discussed as well as recommendations for future work.Acoustical backscatterance offers the best potential for remote sensing ofsuspended sediment concentrations in water.

DOI:

Year: 1993