Pacific Southwest

Title: Controlling suspended sediment samplers by programmable calculator and interface circuitry

Author: Eads, Rand E.; Boolootian, Mark R.

Date: 1985

Source: Research Note PSW-376. Berkeley, California: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 8 p.

Description: A programmable calculator connected to an interface circuit can control automatic samplers and record streamflow data. The circuit converts a voltage representing water stage to a digital signal. The sampling program logs streamflow data when there is a predefined deviation from a linear trend in the water elevation. The calculator estimates suspended sediment discharge from rating coefficients for the gauging site. When a threshold value of accumulated suspecded sediment discharge is reached, the calculator sends a signal to the interface circuit that activates a pumping sampler. The sampling program is easily updated, and data are transferred to a computer by using a digital cassette recorder. This system increases sampling flexibility and efficiency.

Keywords: PSW4351, Caspar Creek, automatic pumping samplers, streamflow, suspended sediment, sampling, water quality, data logger, programmable calculator

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Citation

Eads, Rand E.; Boolootian, Mark R.  1985.  Controlling suspended sediment samplers by programmable calculator and interface circuitry.   Research Note PSW-376. Berkeley, California: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 8 p..