Daily Suspended Sediment Concentration Research Articles

Estimates of suspended sediment entering San Francisco Bay from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco Bay, California

This study demonstrates the use of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) data collected at Mallard Island as a means of determining suspended-sediment load entering San Francisco Bay from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds. Optical backscatter (OBS) data were collected every 15 min during water years (WYs) 1995–2003 and converted to SSC. Daily fluvial advective sediment load was estimated by combining estimated Delta outflow with daily averaged SSC. On days when no data were available, SSC was estimated using linear interpolation. A model was developed to estimate the landward dispersive load using velocity and SSC data collected during WYs 1994 and 1996. The advective and dispersive loads were summed to estimate the total load. Annual suspended-sediment load at Mallard Island averaged 1.2±0.4 Mt (million metric tonnes). Given that the average water discharge for the 1995–2003 period was greater than the long -term average discharge, it seems likely that the average suspended-sediment load may be less than 1.2±0.4 Mt. Average landward dispersive load was 0.24 Mt/yr, 20% of the total. On average during the wet season, 88% of the annual suspended-sediment load was discharged through the Delta and 43% occurred during the wettest 30-day period. The January 1997 flood transported 1.2 Mt of suspended sediment or about 11% of the total 9-year load (10.9 Mt). Previous estimates of sediment load at Mallard Island are about a factor of 3 greater because they lacked data downstream from riverine gages and sediment load has decreased. Decreasing suspended-sediment loads may increase erosion in the Bay, help to cause remobilization of buried contaminants, and reduce the supply of sediment for restoration projects.

Suspended sediment from the Gangotri Glacier: Quantification, variability and associations with discharge and air temperature

To understand the sediment delivery variation for a Himalayan Glacier (Gangotri Glacier, Garhwal Himalayas) and to determine its relationship with discharge and air temperature, suspended sediment samples and discharge data were collected near the glacier snout (4000 m) for four melt seasons during the period 2000–2003. These data were used to estimate suspended sediment concentration (SSC), suspended sediment load (SSL), sediment yield and erosion rate in the glacier melt stream (Bhagirathi). The monthly distribution of suspended sediment and its variability from year to year have been examined. Mean monthly SSC for May, June, July, August, September and October were found to be 1942, 2063, 3658, 2551, 734 and 136 mg l −1, respectively. Maximum SSC in meltwater was observed in July followed by August. It was found that the cumulative percentage delivery of SSC precedes discharge throughout the melt season. Mean monthly total SSL for May, June, July, August, September and October during the study period was found to be 149, 423, 1220, 746, 143 and 5×10 3 ton, respectively. The strong variability is found in SSL ( C v=1.1) than SSC ( C v=0.8) because computation of SSL includes both discharge ( C v=0.6) and SSC. Delivery response of SSL in terms of percentage of total load is less in the early part of the melt season than in the later stage in comparison to that of discharge. This may be due to the fact that in the beginning of the melt season low melt rate conditions prevails and thus, the low discharge velocity could not flush out stored glacial sediment. It has been observed that 59–64% of the sediment passed through the channel by the time 50% of the total discharge passed. The average suspended sediment yield for the whole melt season from the study area was estimated to be about 4834 ton km −2 and corresponding erosion rate was 1.8 mm. The relationship between mean monthly SSC and discharge ( R 2=0.99) is much better than the daily SSC and discharge ( R 2=0.40) because variability of both parameters is averaged-out on monthly scale. Mean monthly SSC and mean monthly SSL provide a good exponential relationship with mean monthly air temperature. These results are relevant for planning and management of water resources in the high altitude areas and for designing hydropower projects.

Suspended Sediment Transport from the Dokriani Glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas

Estimation of sediment load from glacierized basins is very important for planning, designing, installation and operation of hydro-power projects, including management of reservoirs. In the present study, an assessment of suspended sediment concentration, load, yield and erosion rate has been undertaken for the Dokriani Glacier drainage basin located in the Garhwal Himalayas. About 60% of the total drainage area of this basin is glacierized. Data were collected for four ablation seasons (1995-1998). The mean daily suspended sediment concentrations for June, July, August and September were 452, 933, 965 and 275 mg 1-1, respectively, indicating highest suspended sediment concentration in August, followed by July. Similar trends were also found for the sediment load and about 88% of the total suspended sediment load of the melt period was transported during the months of July and August. Sediment yield for the study basin was computed to be about 2,800 t km-2 yr-1, which is comparable with glacierized basins (10-30% glacierized) in the Pamir region. For the entire ablation period, the erosion from the Dokriani Glacier basin is estimated to be about 1.0 mm. There was a poor relationship between suspended sediment concentration and discharge. The average percentages of clay, silt and sand were found to be 1.4, 67.3 and 31.3%, respectively, which suggest maximum content of silt followed by sand. There was limited variation in the content of clay, silt and sand in the suspended sediment during the ablation period.

A phase-space reconstruction approach to prediction of suspended sediment concentration in rivers

The use of phase-space reconstruction approach for understanding and predicting suspended sediment concentration dynamics in rivers is investigated. According to this approach, the dynamic changes of the suspended sediment concentration phenomenon are represented by reconstructing (or embedding) the single-dimensional (or variable) suspended sediment concentration series in a multi-dimensional phase-space. After representing the dynamics in the phase-space, a local approximation method is employed for making predictions. The approach is employed for representing and predicting the dynamics of the daily suspended sediment concentration observed in the Mississippi River basin (at St. Louis, MO) in the United States of America. The predicted suspended sediment concentrations are found to be in very good agreement with the observed ones; not only are the major trends well captured but the minor (noisy) fluctuations reasonably preserved as well. The near-accurate predictions indicate the appropriateness of the phase-space reconstruction approach for understanding the suspended sediment concentration phenomenon. The results (i.e. optimal embedding dimension) also reveal that the suspended sediment concentration dynamics are dominantly influenced by three variables, suggesting that the suspended sediment concentration (and other sediment transport related) phenomena could be viewed from a low-dimensional chaotic dynamic perspective.

Seasonal, neap-spring variation of sediment concentration in the joint area between Yangtze Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

An analysis of variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over one year is presented for the joint area between the Yangtze Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. Results suggest that daily SSC presents periodic variations, which correspond with seasonal and neap-spring tidal cycle. SSCs are higher during the winter season and during spring tides when compared with summer and neap-tide conditions. Furthermore, data indicate that wave and tidal currents are the two dominant factors affecting SSC. Although the Yangtze River discharges abundant sediments to the study area, it does not directly affect concentration variations. But the changing path of the Yangtze River plume plays a certain role in the seasonal variations of SSC. Finally, the calculation of bottom stresses suggests that SSC is a function of both wave and tide-induced resuspension.

Inorganic Sediment Budget for the North Inlet Salt Marsh, South Carolina, U.S.A.

Most salt marshes along the east coast of North America appear to accumulate sediment at a rate sufficient to keep pace with the rise in eustatic sea level and local subsidence. Thus, these marshes must be importing sediment from the coastal ocean and/or the adjacent estuaries. The sediment accumulating in the North Inlet salt marsh, South Carolina, is 80% inorganic, and, based on 210Pb dating, is accreting at a rate of 0.098 g cm−2 yr−1, equal to a 2.7 mm yr−1 vertical sedimentation rate. Tide gauge records show a relative sea level rise of 2.2 to 3.4 mm yr−1, indicating this marsh is maintaining its elevation relative to mean sea level rise. The North Inlet salt marsh has two avenues of sediment exchange: (1) through the tidal inlet to the ocean and (2) through Winyah Bay, the adjoining estuary. Long-term inorganic suspended sediment flux through the inlet is calculated to be a net import of 1.35 kg s−1, based on application of a tidal hypsometric flow model to seven years of daily suspended sediment concentrations. However, the import required to balance relative sea level rise is only 0.80 kg s−1, implying an excess net import of 0.55 kg s−1. The difference between import and accumulation is explained by the progradation of the marsh toward Winyah Bay, a conclusion which is supported by the geomorphology and stratigraphy of the marsh-estuary border. Thus, the North Inlet marsh imports sediment on the average through the tidal inlet, at a rate which allows for both vertical accumulation at a rate approximately equal to the relative sea level rise and also lateral expansion of the marsh.

Transfer function models of suspended sediment concentration

The majority of past suspended sediment concentration modeling efforts have relied on simple regression analysis. Problems with these models, and in particular, sediment rating curves, have been gaining attention recently. It is argued here that many of the problems result from the fact that simple regression models are inappropriate for modeling fluvial systems because they fail to adequately represent the dynamic nature of fluvial processes. Transfer function models are system models which can account for the dynamic nature of fluvial systems. Single input‐single output and multiple input‐single output transfer function models for daily suspended sediment concentration are developed for two drainage basins in Iowa. Interpretation of the models with respect to hydrologic theory indicates that model form and parameter estimates can be related to drainage basin size, land use, and physiographic characteristics.

Determining suspended sediment loads from turbidity records / La détermination des charges en suspension des rapports sur la turbidité

Abstract The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the US Geological Survey are cooperating in several field studies to evaluate sediment control measures used during highway construction. Among the parameters being monitored are suspended sediment concentration and turbidity. Sediment loads are calculated from suspended sediment and water discharge data, but some sediment loads must be determined indirectly because it is virtually impossible to obtain sufficient suspended sediment samples to define all runoff conditions adequately. Sediment discharge-water discharge correlation curves have proved unreliable for streams affected by highway construction, so an alternative method using the turbidity record was developed during these studies. The field data reveal a good correlation between daily mean discharge-weighted turbidity and daily mean discharge-weighted suspended sediment concentration. Turbidity is monitored and recorded continuously, and the daily mean discharge-weighted turbidity is calc...