Abstract

Sampling strategies and methods used for estimating load can lead to large uncertainties in suspended sedimenttransport quantification, especially in rivers with high variability in streamflow. The aim of this paper is toevaluate suspended sediment load, using a number of direct estimation techniques, in order to find a suitablemethod for temporary river systems and to assess the uncertainty associated with load estimation, due to thespecific method applied. One year of continuous measurement of flow, and discrete sampling (n=216) ofsuspended sediment concentrations, taken from 2010 to 2011 in the Celone River (SE, Italy), were used toestimate annual load. Averaging, ratio and regression estimator methods were applied to the entire dataset, andto subsets of data, to calculate the load. The results show a wide range of values, from 220 to 1123 t km-2 yr-1, withrespect to the applied suspended sediment load estimation techniques. Averaging methods resulted biased.Sediment rating curves underestimated load, while, if the back-transformation bias correction was used, loadwas overestimated. The ratio methods generally overestimate load. Increased precision and accuracy wasachieved through applying data stratification, based on flow regime and seasonality. After applying three differentflow regime stratifications, the annual load ranged from 240 to 606 t km-2 yr-1 and, using seasonalstratification, from 258 to 974 t km-2 yr-1. It seems that ratio estimator methods, and the regression equationsapplied to the stratification on a flow regime basis, are more suitable for estimating load in temporary, flashystreams.

Autore Pugliese

• De Girolamo Anna Maria

Tutti gli autori

• De Girolamo A. M.; Di Pillo R.; Lo Porto A.; Todisco M. T.; Barca E.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Catena

Anno di pubblicazione

2018

ISSN

0341-8162

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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