Applicability of MEP and SEMEP for computing total sediment load (Case Study: Chelichay Catchment in Golestan Province)

Abstract

A reliable and consistent method of computing total sediment discharge within a river system is one of the most important practical objectives of research in fluvial processes. Modified Einstein Procedure (MEP) and Series Expansion Modified Einstein Procedure (SEMEP) methods were used to determine total sediment load on the basis of the data collected from a depth-integrated sediment. On the basis of Fifty nine data sets measured from 5 rivers including a sand bed river and four garvel bed rivers, the accuracy of sediment discharge calculations were examined. In a sand bed river the results of SEMEP method was remarkably better than MEP method. In SEMEP method, calculated and measured total load are almost equal (Mean discrepancy ratio is 1.27) while MEP model compute total load discharge approximately 3 times greater than averaged measured values (Mean discrepancy ratio is 2.9). In all gravel bed rivers, except one, SEMEP method was better in predicting total load than MEP method. The results show that SEMEP method is more comprehensive in computing total sediment load from informations gathered with depth integrated suspended load sampler in both gravel and sand bed rivers.