Interpretation of suspended sediment concentration‐runoff hysteresis loops in two small karst watersheds

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AbstractQuantifying suspended sediment concentration‐runoff (SSC‐Q) hysteresis can help to understand the source and transport mechanism of sediment. Due to the unique lithology, shallow soil, high infiltration capacity, complex geomorphology and heterogeneous landscape of karst watersheds in southwestern China, SSC‐Q hysteresis patterns remain unclear in this region. In the present study, the hysteresis index (HI) was used to quantify the SSC‐Q hysteresis pattern. The effects of rainfall and runoff on the HI were also evaluated from 2014 to 2019 in the Mahuangtian (2.26 km2) and Muzhaihe (0.09 km2) karst watersheds. The results showed that the clockwise loops accounted for more than 60% of the total hysteresis patterns in the two karst watersheds. In contrast, the counter‐clockwise and figure‐eight loops occupied no more than 30% and 10% of the total hysteresis patterns, respectively. These differences in the hysteresis patterns probably resulted from the spatial distribution of sediment sources and hydrological connectivity. The HI was significantly affected by the maximum discharge in the Mahuangtian watershed (P < 0.05) and by the flashiness index in the Muzhaihe watershed. This may be attributed to their different 3D hydrogeological structure, lithology and watershed size. This study can facilitate a better understanding of suspended sediment dynamics and provide important guidance for accurately implementing soil and water conservation strategies in karst areas.