Abstract
In order to investigate the influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties, suspended sediment samples were collected from the outlets of 60 small catchments located throughout Southwest England over a 14-month period. The catchments were selected to provide a representative range of topographic, land use, soil and geological characteristics. The suspended sediment samples were collected using time-integrating trap samplers, emptied at monthly intervals. Laboratory analysis focused on a selection of suspended sediment properties, including particle size composition, cation exchange capacity, and organic carbon, nitrogen, metal, radionuclide and phosphorus content. The results presented show that despite the substantial variability of catchment characteristics associated with the 60 sampling sites, the suspended sediment properties generally fell within a relatively limited range. However, statistical analysis identified significant spatial variability of suspended sediment within Southwest England, which in turn can be linked to catchment characteristics.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Foster, I. D. L. & S. M. Charlesworth, 1996. Heavy metals in the hydrological cycle trends and explanation. Hydrol. proc. 10: 227-261.
Hillier, S., 2001. Particulate composition and origin of suspended sediment in the River Don, Aberdeenshire, U.K. Sci. Tot. Environ. 265: 205-222.
Jarvie, H. P., B. A. Whitton & C. Neal, 1998. Nitrogen and phosphorus in east coast British rivers: speciation, sources and biological significance. Sci. Tot. Environ. 210 / 211: 79-109.
Mehta, N. C., J. O. Legg, C. A. I. Goring & C. A. Black, 1954. Determination of organic phosphorus in soils: I. Extraction method. Soil Sci. Soc. am. 18: 443-449.
Meybeck, M., 1984. Les fleuves et le cycle geochimique des éléments. Thèse d' Etat, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris.
Owens, P. N. & D. E. Walling, 2002. The phosphorus content of fluvial suspended sediment in rural and industrialised river basins. Wat. Res. 36: 685-701.
Phillips, J. M., M. A. Russell & D. E. Walling, 2000. Timeintegrated sampling of suspended sediment: a simple methodology for small catchments. Hydrol. proc. 14: 2589-2602.
Russell, M. A., D. E. Walling & R. A. Hodgkinson, 2000. Appraisal of a simple sampling device for collecting time-integrated fluvial suspended sediment samples. In Stone, M. (ed.), The Role of Erosion and Sediment Transport in Nutrient Transfer. IAHS Publ. no 263: 119-127.
Walling, D. E. & P. Kane, 1984. Suspended sediment properties and their geomorphological significance. In Burt, T. P. & D. E. Walling (eds), Catchment Experiments in Fluvial Geomorphology: 311-334.
Walling, D. E. & P. W. Moorehead, 1987. Spatial and temporal variation of the particle size characteristics of fluvial suspended sediment. Geografiska Annal. 69A: 47-59.
Walling, D. E. & P. W. Moorehead, 1989. The particle size characteristics of fluvial suspended sediment: an overview. Hydrobiologia 176/177: 125-149.
Walling, D. E., M. A. Russell & B. W. Webb, 2001. Controls on the nutrient content of suspended sediment transported by British Rivers. Sci. Tot. Environ. 266: 113-123.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ankers, C., Walling, D.E. & Smith, R.P. The influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties. Hydrobiologia 494, 159–167 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025458114068
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025458114068