Sediment Load Measurements

Abstract

Two modes of sediment transport by rivers, suspended load and bed load, are usually recognized on behavioral grounds. Suspended load refers to the relatively fine part of the total sediment load that is transported in continuous or intermittent suspension. For sediment to remain in suspension, flow turbulence and velocity must be sufficiently great to counter the tendency of suspended sediment to settle to the riverbed. The two main factors determining sediment settling velocity are grain size and density. Bed or traction load refers to the relatively coarse part of the total sediment load that is transported along or close to the riverbed by rolling, sliding, or saltation. The latter term refers to sand movement in a series of hops across a riverbed in a distinct, concentrated layer.

Suspended sediment load estimation in an ungauged river in south‐eastern Australia

“…To effectively manage soil erosion to protect river health, soil loss at the hillslope needs to be linked to sediment yield for an individual catchment (Armstrong & Mackenzie, ; Erskine, ; Prosser, Rustomji, Young, Moran, & Hughes, ; Rustomji et al, ; Wilkinson et al, ). Current methods for quantifying soil erosion and sediment export are well developed at the plot, hillslope, and regional scales (i.e., thousands of square kilometres); however, there is an inability to up or downscale these methods for application across catchments that are between these scales (i.e., hundreds of square kilometres).…”