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Updated: May 31, 2026

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
Published on: December 16, 2022
Characterization of bottom sediments in lakes using hydroacoustic methods and comparison with laboratory measurements
Michael A Anderson1, Porfirio Pacheco
1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. michael.anderson@ucr.edu
Abstract:
The acoustical properties of bottom sediments in two lakes were shown to be strongly correlated with clay content, organic C and total N concentrations, and other important sediment properties. The fractal dimension of the bottom echo was more strongly correlated with sediment physical and chemical properties than energy-based measures. The fractal dimension was also related to rates of PO4-P and NH4-N release from intact sediment cores and sediment oxygen demand. Measurements made at 430-kHz were more sensitive to differences in sediment properties than 201- or 38-kHz. Hydroacoustic measurements allow rapid assessment of properties important in lake restoration and water resource management.

