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Mathematical models developed for quantification of sediment transport in hydrological watersheds require data collected through field or laboratory experiments, but these are still very rare in the literature. This study aims to collect such data at the laboratory scale. To this end, a rainfall simulator equipped with nozzles to spray rainfall was constructed, together with an erosion flume that can be given longitudinal and lateral slopes. Eighty experiments were performed, considering microtopographical features by pre-forming a rill on the soil surface before the start of each experiment. Medium and fine sands were used as soil, and four rainfall intensities (45, 65, 85 and 105 mm h-1) were applied in the experiments. Rainfall characteristics such as uniformity, granulometry, drop velocity and kinetic energy were evaluated; flow and sediment discharge data were collected and analysed. The analysis shows that the sediment transport rate is directly proportional to rainfall intensity and slope. In contrast, the volumetric sediment concentration stays constant and does not change with rainfall intensity unless the slope changes. These conclusions are restricted to the conditions of experiments performed under rainfall intensities between and 105 mm h-1for medium and fine sands in a 136-cm-wide, 650-cm-long and 17-cm-deep erosion flume with longitudinal and lateral slopes varying between 5 and 20%. EditorZ.W. Kundzewicz;Associate editorG. Mahé CitationAksoy, H., Unal, N.E., Cokgor, S., Gedikli, A., Yoon, J., Koca, K., Inci, S.B., Eris, E., and Pak, G., 2013. Laboratory experiments of sediment transport from bare soil with a rill.Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (7), 1505–1518. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a reach-scale sediment balance of a large impounded Mediterranean river (the lower Ebro, 1998–2008). Multi-temporal sediment storage and the influence of floods and tributaries on the sediment load were examined using continuous discharge and turbidity records. The mean annual suspended sediment load at the reach outlet (Xerta) is 0.12 × 106 t, corroborating previous results. Suspended sediment concentrations were low (SSCmean = 13 mg L-1), attaining a maximum of 274 mg L-1. Erosion processes (channel-scour, bank erosion) are dominant, and net export of sediment occurs over the long term. Unexpectedly, ephemeral tributaries were found to contribute significantly: sediment delivered during torrential events attained 5% of the Ebro annual load, and was even larger than that in flushing flows. Overall, most of the suspended sediment load is transported by floods (up to 65% in some years). The results constitute basic information to underpin current management actions aiming to achieve the sustainability of the riverine and deltaic system. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor D. Hughes Citation Tena, A., Batalla, R.J. and Vericat, D., 2012. Reach-scale suspended sediment balance downstream from dams in a large Mediterranean river. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 831–849. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment transport capacity is a key concept in determining rates of detachment and deposition in process-based erosion models, yet limited studies have been conducted on steep slopes. We investigated the effects of sediment size on transport capacity of overland flow in a flume. Unit flow discharge ranged from 0.66 to 5.26 × 10-3 m2 s-1, and slope gradient varied from 8.7 to 42.3%. Five sediment size classes (median diameter, d 50, of 0.10, 0.22, 0.41, 0.69 and 1.16 mm) were used. Sediment size was inversely related to transport capacity. The ratios of average transport capacity of the finest class to those of the 0.22, 0.41, 0.69 and 1.16 mm classes were 1.09, 1.30, 1.55 and 1.92, respectively. Sediment transport capacity increased as a power function of flow discharge and slope gradient (R2 = 0.98), shear stress (R2 = 0.95), stream power (R2 = 0.94), or unit stream power (R2 = 0.76). Transport capacity generally decreased as a power function of sediment size (exponent = −0.35). Shear stress and stream power predicted transport capacity better than unit stream power on steep slopes when transport capacity was <7 kg m-1 s-1. Sediment transport capacity increased linearly with mean flow velocity. Critical or threshold velocity increased as a power function of sediment size (R2 = 0.93). Further studies with fine soil particles are needed to quantify the effects of sediment size on transport capacity of overland flow on steep slopes. Citation Zhang, G.-H., Wang, L.-L., Tang, K.-M., Luo, R.-T. & Zhang, X.C. (2011) Effects of sediment size on transport capacity of overland flow on steep slopes. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(7), 1289–1299. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]