1. Linking temporal scales of suspended sediment transport in rivers: towards improving transferability of prediction.
- Author
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Vercruysse, Kim, Grabowski, Robert C., Hess, Tim, and Lexartza-Artza, Irantzu
- Subjects
SUSPENDED sediments ,SEDIMENT transport ,RIVER sediments ,FORECASTING ,WATERSHEDS - Abstract
Purpose: Suspended sediment (SS) transport in rivers is highly variable, making it challenging to develop predictive models that are applicable across timescales and rivers. Previous studies have identified catchment and hydro-meteorological variables controlling SS concentrations. However, due to the lack of long-term, high-frequency SS monitoring, it remains difficult to link SS transport dynamics during high-flow events with annual or decadal trends in SS transport. This study investigated how processes driving SS transport during high-flow events impact SS transport dynamics and trends observed over longer timescales. Methods: Suspended sediment samples from the River Aire (UK) (1989–2017) were used to (i) statistically identify factors driving SS transport over multiple timescales (high-flow events, intra- and inter-annual) and (ii) conceptualize SS transport as a fractal system to help link and interpret the effect of short-term events on long-term SS transport dynamics. Results and discussion: Antecedent moisture conditions were a dominant factor controlling event-based SS transport, confirming results from previous studies. Findings also showed that extreme high-flow events (in SS concentration or discharge) mask factors controlling long-term trends. This cross-timescale effect was conceptualized as high fractal power, indicating that quantifying SS transport in the River Aire requires a multi-timescale approach. Conclusion: Characterizing the fractal power of a SS transport system presents a starting point in developing transferrable process-based approaches to quantify and predict SS transport, and develop management strategies. A classification system for SS transport dynamics in river systems in terms of fractal power could be developed which expresses the dominant processes underlying SS transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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