Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5044
ONLINE ONLY
ABSTRACTTo address questions concerning ongoing geomorphic processes in the St. Clair River, selected bathymetric datasets spanning 36 years were analyzed. Comparisons of recent high-resolution datasets covering the upper river indicate a highly variable, active environment. Although statistical and spatial comparisons of the datasets show that some changes to the channel size and shape have taken place during the study period, uncertainty associated with various survey methods and interpolation processes limit the statistically certain results. The methods used to spatially compare the datasets are sensitive to small variations in position and depth that are within the range of uncertainty associated with the datasets. Characteristics of the data, such as the density of measured points and the range of values surveyed, can also influence the results of spatial comparison. With due consideration of these limitations, apparently active and ongoing areas of elevation change in the river are mapped and discussed. |
First posted August 1, 2009
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Bennion, David, 2009, Statistical and spatial analysis of bathymetric data for the St. Clair River, 1971–2007: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5044, 58 p.
Abstract
Introduction
Dataset Properties
Full-River Datasets
Upper-River Datasets
Data Properties Summary
Interpolation
Interpolation Uncertainty
Uncertainty Summary
Comparative Analysis
Results
Changes in Volume
Changes in Elevation
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Appendix 1. Images Showing Results From Volumetric- and Elevation-Change Analyses