Salt Marsh Community Rod-Surface Elevation Table (RSET) Benchmark Installation
Curtis AC, Asper J, Eastman S, Baron LC. 2011. Salt Marsh Community Rod-Surface Elevation Table (RSET) Benchmark Installation
The following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the procedures involved in installing the Rod Surface Elevation Table (RSET) benchmark. The RSET method provides a non-destructive process that precisely measures changes in ground surface elevation over time relative to a fixed datum. These procedures are adapted from Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resource Division protocol (Folse and West 2004). The Rod Surface Elevation Table is the preferred type of elevation table and corresponding benchmark (Figure 1). They have been established in herbaceous marsh and mangrove ecosystems. The RSET method provides a non-destructive process which precisely measures the sediment elevation over a long period of time relative to a fixed subsurface datum. Briefly, a series of 4’. stainless steel rods are driven through the root zone, the organic matter, and any soft underlying materials until refusal is encountered from a driving force on the rod. A custom-made, stainless steel collar is attached to the rod at the surface to provide a constant horizontal reference plane as well as long-term repeatability as the table remains fixed for each sampling period. The technique was developed by Cahoon et al. (2002a and 2002b) and the following procedures for RSET benchmark installation are adapted from Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resource Division protocol (Folse and West 2004).
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- Curtis, A; Asper, Jennifer; Eastman, Scott; Baron, Lisa
- Date of Issue
- 2011-09-08
- Units
- SECN
- Keywords
- Salt Marsh, salt marsh elevation, Saltmarsh Elevation Procedures