Measuring sediment yields of storms using PSALT

Abstract

Abstract - Storm yields of water and sediment are being measured as part of a study of the effects of roading, logging, and burning in a second-growth redwood forest in northern California. Two primary basins, each about 500 ha, and 13 sub-basins in one of them are measured for sediment flux and the presence and magnitude of sediment-based ""cumulative effects"". Study objectives require a more sophisticated sediment sampling design than typically used in watershed experiments. Sediment is sampled and estimated by using PSALT - a probability-based method for sampling that enhances data collection during high flows. The method is applied to storms defined after field data are collected. The sampling sites are visited at arbitrary times during storm periods. Because PSALT data are independent they can be combined to give unbiased estimates of suspended sediment yield and its variance during storms. Problems of applying the method to a large number of basins are discussed along with their solutions

Citation

Thomas, Robert B. 1988. Measuring sediment yields of storms using PSALT. In: Bordas, M.P., and D.E. Walling, eds. Sediment budgets, proceedings of the Porto Alegre Symposium; 11-15 December 1988; Brazil. International Association of Hydrological Sciences Publication No. 174. Wallingford, UK; 101-109.