Field spectra, UAS-based hyperspectral and RGB images, and in situ measurements of turbidity and Rhodamine WT dye concentration from an experiment conducted at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, on April 2, 2019

This data release includes field spectra, UAS-based hyperspectral and RGB images, and in situ measurements of turbidity and Rhodamine WT dye concentration acquired during an experiment performed at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, near Columbia, Missouri, on April 2, 2019. The purpose of the experiment was to assess the feasibility of inferring concentrations of a visible dye (Rhodamine WT) tracer from various types of remotely sensed data in water with varying levels of turbidity. Whereas previous research on remote sensing of tracer dye concentrations has focused on clear-flowing streams, the Missouri River is much more turbid and the reflectance signal associated with the sediment-laden water could obscure that related to the presence and amount of dye. This experiment thus provided an initial test of the potential to map dye concentrations from remotely sensed data in more turbid rivers like the Missouri, where tracer studies involving the release of a visible dye can provide insight regarding the dispersal of endangered sturgeon larvae. This parent data release includes links to child pages for several data sets produced during the experiment: Field spectra from two tanks with varying levels of turbidity and tracer dye (Rhodamine WT) concentration. The data consist of reflectance measurements obtained above the water surface over the wavelength range from 400-900 nm. Hyperspectral and RGB (red-green-blue) images acquired from an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and encompassing both of the water tanks as the levels of turbidity and dye concentration varied over the course of the experiment. In situ measurements of turbidity and Rhodamine WT dye concentration logged by sondes placed within the two tanks during the experiment. Please refer to the individual child pages for further detail about each data set. Overall, these data were used to assess the potential for estimating tracer dye concentrations in turbid rivers from various types of remotely sensed data.