Measuring bedload motion time at sub-second resolution using Benford's
law on acoustic data
Abstract
An important component of quantifying bedload transport flux is the
identification of the onset of bedload motion. Bedload transport can be
monitored with high temporal resolution using passive acoustic methods,
e.g., hydrophones. Yet, an efficient method for identifying the onset of
bedload transport from long-term continuous acoustic data is still
lacking. Benford’s Law defines a probability distribution of the
first-digit of datasets and has been used to identify anomalies. We
apply Benford’s Law to the three years of acoustic recordings from a
stationary hydrophone in the Taroko National Park, Taiwan. Our workflow
allows for monitoring bedload motion in near-real-time, and it is
convenient for others to reference. Two bedload transport events were
identified during the examined period, lasting 17 and 45 hours,
accounting for approximately 0.35% of the time per year.