Determination of suspended sediment rating curve and models to estimate the suspended solids concentration in the Pandeiros river, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to fit the sediment rating curves in three sampling points of the Pandeiros River (Brazil), as well as to establish models for estimating the suspended solids concentration using the flow and turbidity data. The study used data measured between May 2019 and January 2023. The following variables were determined: flow, suspended solids concentration, suspended solids discharge and turbidity. The sediment rating curves were fitted using the power model. The coefficient of determination was higher than 0.93 for all the fits. As for the models fitted to estimate the suspended solids concentration, the best results were obtained by the power model, using flow as the independent variable, and the linear model, using turbidity as the independent variable. It was concluded that both the rating sediment curve and the models fitted to estimate the solids concentration can be used to assist in the hydrosedimentological monitoring of the Pandeiros River.