An Evaluation Procedure for Determining the Adequacy of Alluvial River Sediment Data Sets.
Abstract
Well over a century of research into the relationship between sediment and water and the amount of sediment transported under any given set of flow conditions has produced a prolific number of sediment transport relationships. These functions are based on measurable physical, sediment, and hydraulic parameters. By properly selecting one or more of these functions, sediment transport may be predicted for a variety of conditions. Due to the nature of the sediment-water discharge relationship, which may vary over several log cycles for a given flow, a large amount of data are thought to be necessary to adequately define the sediment transport characteristics of a given stream or reach thereof. The collection of sediment data is expensive and time consuming. Little or not guidance has been developed to answer the question, 'How much sediment data are necessary?' A procedure to answer this question is developed in this dissertation. The procedure is tested at three different locations within the St. Francis river basin, which drains over 5,000 square miles in southeastern Missouri and Eastern Arkansas. A two-staged approach using the methods of regression analysis and the principle of maximum entropy is used to develop the procedure. In addition, a comprehensive data set is developed and is available for additional research. A by-product of the procedure is guidance on selecting the best sediment transport equation for a given reach of river. The developed herein will define the amount of an existing sediment data set that provides the most information and also evaluate the adequacy of the data set for describing sediment transport characteristics within a given basin.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA323676
Entities
People
- William D. Martin