Abstract
This study presents meteorological and hydrologic drought effects on sediment yield in a small rural basin, Uğrak Watershed in Tokat Region of North Central Anatolia, Turkey. Sediment yield was estimated by using Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) model for 25 years period. The maximum and minimum sediment yields were estimated in 1980 and 1997 respectively. Historical precipitation and flow data were analyzed to determine meteorological and hydrological drought by Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) method. Results showed thatthere was 10-year drought vs. 15-year wet for meteorological and 14-year drought vs. 11-year wet for hydrological conditions. In the meteorologically drought and wet years, the sediment yields were estimated as 6920.7 tons and 18068.2 tons, respectively. In the hydrological dry and wet years, the sediment yields were estimated as 7417.8 tons and 21489.2 tons, respectively. Sediment yields were found similar in meteorological and hydrological wet and also similar in meteorological and hydrological dry conditions. Drought reduced the sediment yield in the study area.
Highlights
Drought and wet conditions may affect the sediment amount
This study indicated that the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) satisfactorily explains the development of conditions leading up to the three main flood events to occur in the region during the past 25 years (Seiler et al 2002)
We investigated the effect of drought on sediment yield in a small agricultural watershed
Summary
Drought and wet conditions may affect the sediment amount. The suspended sediment loads in a stream are the results of erosion and transportation process. Sediment yield might increase or decrease during drought seasons. Drought influences erosion primarily through changes in the amount and intensity of rainfall, which associated with reduction of cover vegetation (Schumm 1977). These two factors describe the erosion response to drought. The reduction of rainfall during dry season reduces the erosion; it reduces cover vegetation and the landscape becomes more vulnerable to erosion
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