Suspended Sediment Flux in Perennial River Systems: Determinants of Yield Levels

Abstract

The level of suspended sediment flux or sediment yield in rivers has significant implications for river channel development, the growth or decline of estuaries, flood mitigation and fluvial management. This study uses multiple regression analysis to analyze the determinants of sediment flux in a representative set of 57 of the world’s major rivers. The study has three main findings. First, suspended sediment flux yields are strongly driven by precipitation runoff, and an increase in runoff of 1 per cent increases sediment flux by 1.02 per cent. Second, suspended sediment flux yields are strongly driven by sediment concentration, and an increase of sediment concentration of 1 per cent increases sediment flux by 1.00 per cent. Third, suspended sediment levels are weakly driven by the basin size or area, and an increase in area of one per cent increase sediment flux by 0.00016 per cent.