Suspended sediment transport dynamics in river basins

Authors: Simon RUSJAN, Matjaž MIKOŠ
Citation: Acta hydrotechnica, vol. 24, no. 40, pp. 1-20, 2006.
Abstract: The article gives an insight into the dynamics of suspended load transport in river basins. In the introductory section, some basic causes for the changed quantity of suspended load in the aquatic environment are presented together with the problems that arise from these changes. In continuation a description of the elements of the suspended load transport dynamics is represented, ranging from the processes of sediment detachment to the processes of suspended load transport and deposition. As regards the spatial dimension, the processes of soil erosion, processes of subsurface flushing and transport, processes of bank erosion end interactions between these processes are discussed. Some basic factors influencing the development of erosion processes are introduced. In the second part some possible mathematical formulations of the suspended load transport dynamics are more precisely described. Special attention is given to the processes of detachment and transport of soil particles by raindrop impact, further transport of the mobilised soil particles with surface rainfall runoff and transport of suspended load in river channels.
Keywords: hydrology, soil erosion, sediment detachment, sediment transport, suspended load, modelling, fluvial processes
Full text: a40sr.pdf