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A current‐activated sediment trap
Author(s) -
Hargrave B.,
Siddall G.,
Steeves G.,
Awalt G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1994.39.2.0383
Subject(s) - trap (plumbing) , current (fluid) , current meter , sediment trap , sedimentation , sediment , sampling (signal processing) , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , funnel , geology , oceanography , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , physics , environmental engineering , optics , detector
A current‐activated sediment trap is described that collects particles based on preselected current speed and direction criteria. The collector incorporates a steep‐walled funnel, a motor‐driven carousel with sample cups, an absolute optical shaft encoder, and an acoustic current meter. A field trial of the trap was carried out in a shallow marine embayment over 3 d where it correctly positioned cups in response to tidal changes in current speed and direction. Particle organic content and sedimentation rates calculated over hourly intervals were similar to measurements with a standard sequential sampling trap over several hours when the two traps were deployed simultaneously.