Introduction to Hydrology

Master of Science Teaching Program ST 589D, Fall 2005

Prof. Enrique R. Vivoni Department of Earth and Environmental Science New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Processes
Topics in Sediment Processes:
Concepts in sediment transport Sediment storage, budgets and yield Estimation of sediment transport Erosion control and soil conservation

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Processes
Topics in Sediment Processes:
Concepts in sediment transport Sediment storage, budgets and yield Estimation of sediment transport Erosion control and soil conservation

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Transport
Erosion is the transport of sediment through rivers and streams. Leads to:
Sediment filling reservoirs, reducing storage capacity. Poor water quality and river pollution issues. Destablization of land surfaces and channels. Reduction in the soil productivity (e.g. topsoil loss).

Preventive measures are needed in regions with high sediment transport:

Geological (natural) erosion. Human-induced (accelerated) erosion from agricultural practices, grazing, deforestation, urbanization, etc.
Lecture 24: November 21, 2005 4

Sediment Transport
Examples of erosion processes occurring within watersheds and rivers.

Rill Erosion in Agricultural Field

Gully Erosion in Open Rangeland

Stream Channel Bank Erosion

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Transport
Erosion is defined as the detachment and transport of soil by water and wind forces:
Erosion controlled by Shear Stress

o = gRS
where o is the boundary shear stress, is the density of water, R is the hydraulic radius and S is the bed slope.

T = 62.4dS
The particle size (d50) that can be carried by flow is controlled by shear stress or Tractive Force (T). where T is the tractive force (lb/ft2), d is flow depth (ft), S is slope.

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

d 50 = cT

Sediment Transport
Fluid velocity (v) and particle size (d) determine erosion, deposition, transport.
Relation between v and d
Increasing velocity

1 3 2

1.

Erosion: High velocities over all diameters lead to erosion. Erosion will occur for lower velocity when d is in medium. Transport: Low velocities and small diameters lead to transport. Transport ceases for high d or high v. Deposition: Low velocities and large diameters lead to deposition.

2.

3. Increasing particle diameter

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Transport
Several factors affect sediment transport by water including:
Climate: Temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind and precipitation affect erosion.
Raindrop impact loosens soil particles. Dry soils more prone to wind erosion, less to water erosion. Wind can heavily erode land surface.

Soil: Erodibility characterizes soil propensity to erode and is affected by the following properties:
Soil texture, including cohesion. Soil structure. Soil moisture level. Organic matter contents. 8

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Sediment Transport
Several factors affect sediment transport by water including:
Vegetation: Stabilizes soil and lowers the erodibility, thus minimizing erosion and promoting deposition:
Plant roots attach to soil, increase cohesion. Canopy intercepts water and minimizes raindrop impact. Stems adds flow resistance which reduced velocity. Litter improves soils structure.

Topography: Terrain attributes play a role in determining the shear stress and thus erosion:
Slope steepness, length and shape. Convergence or divergence regions. Lecture 24: November 21, 2005 9

Sediment Transport
Erosion can be classified into a number of types, depending on flow convergence.
Interrill Erosion: Erosion from raindrop splash and overland sheet flow on flat surfaces. Rill Erosion: Detachment and transport of soil by concentrated flow in small rivulets. Gully Erosion: Larger arroyos and channels that transport water and sediment. Dissect a landscape considerably. Stream Erosion:

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

Erosion within streams and rivers, removal of bank and bed material.

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Sediment Transport
An interesting process in desert regions is the formation of mounds around plants.
Islands of Fertility in Deserts
Effect of Vegetation on Erosion in Deserts: Lower velocity around plants (higher resistance) leads to accumulation of material under the plant and a plant mound. Litter accumulates under the plant and wind borne and water borne particles trapped. Bare Soil or Crust Bare patches become eroded and lowered in elevation as compared to plant mound. Plant Mounds

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Processes
Topics in Sediment Processes:
Concepts in sediment transport Sediment storage, budgets and yield Estimation of sediment transport Erosion control and soil conservation

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Budgets and Yield

Sediment budget is means for estimating input, outputs and storage in a system.
Sources
Upland Gullies Upstream Watershed Sheet Flow Channel Banks

Storage

Sinks
Downstream Watershed

River Reach or Watershed

Reservoir

S s = I s Os t
Lecture 24: November 21, 2005 13

Sediment Budgets and Yield

Example of a sediment budget for small basin in Wisconsin and change over time.
Sediment Budget 1853-1939 Sediment Budget 1975-1993

Values in 103 Mg/yr Values in 103 Mg/yr

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Budgets and Yield

Sediment is stored in channels, slopes, floodplains, reservoirs and other surfaces.
Alluvial Fan Sediment Storage Floodplain Sediment Storage

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Budgets and Yield

Sediment yield is the amount of sediment emanating from a particular source.
Spatial Maps of Sediment Yield Time Series of Sediment Yield

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Budgets and Yield

Example of sediment yield for Rio Puerco.
Arroyo Chico in Rio Puerco

Rio Puerco Incised Arroyos

Gellis et al. (2004)

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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Sediment Processes
Topics in Sediment Processes:
Concepts in sediment transport Sediment storage, budgets and yield Estimation of sediment transport Erosion control and soil conservation

Lecture 24: November 21, 2005

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