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An improved correlation model for sediment delivery ratio assessment

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Abstract

In the present work, a new simplified model approach for sediment delivery ratio (SDR) assessment is proposed. Modelling and assessing SDR is still an open question. Difficulties rise from the lack of sufficient data availability, on one side, and, on the other, from the inherent uncertainties including spatial variability and temporal discontinuity of the land cover, climatic, hydrological and geomorphological variables involved. The proposed SDRSIM model tries to skip over the limitations observed in other models generally adopted. A comparison with two different selected models amongst the most widespread simplified models, i.e. the area-model and the slope-model, is showed in application to a wide range of catchments extensions across different landscapes of Italy. The SDRSIM estimates were also evaluated against observed SDR over a validation dataset of 11 basins sparse over different regions of the world. The results showed the effectiveness of the proposed model approach based on easily available catchment parameters.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. A. Pagano (EC Joint Research Centre, IPSC, Ispra) for his suggestions in model mathematics and Dr. G. Fattoruso (ENEA, Portici) for her help in basins delineation and parameterisation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TEDASS – Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Environmental Diagnostic and Sustainable Development, University of Sannio, 82100, Benevento, Italy

    Nazzareno Diodato

  2. Dipartimento Ambiente, Cambiamenti Globali e Sviluppo Sostenibile, ENEA C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy

    Sergio Grauso

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  1. Nazzareno Diodato
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  2. Sergio Grauso
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Correspondence to Sergio Grauso.

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Diodato, N., Grauso, S. An improved correlation model for sediment delivery ratio assessment. Environ Earth Sci 59, 223–231 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0020-x

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