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Description
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<p>Suspended particulate matter (SPM) flocculation occurs in fluvial systems due to the dominant role of organic matter. Flocculation controls the floc size and eventually the SPM settling velocity, both influencing the overall sediment transport. Information on SPM size and organic matter variability is thus important to better understand transport mechanisms, improve SPM transport models and ultimately maintain a good water and sediment quality of our water resources. In this study, we present long term high frequency SPM particle size, carbon content, sediment concentration and discharge data to elucidate the casual relationships between these parameters. Several sites across Luxembourg were instrumented with submersible spectrophotometers, laser diffraction particle size analysers and turbidimeters. Manual samples were collected using automatic water samplers and analysed in the laboratory. Mean particle size during storm runoff events depicted an initial increase during the rising limb of the hydrograph followed by a decrease before the discharge peak. However, different types of hysteretic patterns were found between particle size and discharge, suggesting changes in sediment sources or composition during consecutive events. Particle size flocculation was found to depend on carbon content and sediment concentration.</p> (2023-02-26)
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Keyword
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Sediment, Settling, Flocculation, Particulates, Environmental science, Particle size, Sedimentation, Total organic carbon, Particle (ecology), Organic matter, Hydrology (agriculture), Environmental chemistry, Chemistry, Geology, Environmental engineering, Oceanography, Geomorphology, Geotechnical engineering |