Spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended load at-a-cross-section: The lowermost Ebro River (Catalonia, Spain)
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Publication date
2012-07ISSN
0043-1354
Abstract
Suspended load dynamics were analyzed for the period 2007e2009 in a semi-meandering
cross-section under different hydrological conditions. Samples were collected at four
different points of the cross-section. During “low discharges” ( 600 m3/s) suspended load
samples were collected at-a-monthly basis, whereas at “high discharges” (>600 m3/s)
sampling was conducted intensively (at-a-daily basis during the first stages of the flood
event). Results indicated that during low discharges, both organic and inorganic suspended
load concentrations tended to be uniformly distributed across the fluvial section; but
during high discharges, two distinct areas were found: an area extending from the “Innerbank” to the “Channel centre” (Area-I) with higher suspended concentrations (organic and
inorganic) than those recorded in the “Outer bank” (Area-II). This phenomenon was likely
related to the formation of secondary flow velocity cells and the activation of new sources
of sediment. In addition, a non-significant relationship between organic suspended load
and water flow was observed in the outer-bank. At-a-monthly basis, the analysis of the
suspended load showed the existence of an intra-annual cycle of the inorganic concentrations, with a progressive increase from October to March followed by a decrease from
March to September. Nevertheless, the organic suspended load did not show any trend,
being equally distributed along the year, suggesting that other sources of organic matter
besides phytoplankton are predominant.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
574 - General ecology and biodiversity
Pages
11
Publisher
Elsevier
Is part of
Water Research
Citation
Rovira, Albert, Carles Alcaraz, and Carles Ibáñez. “Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Suspended Load At-a-Cross-Section: The Lowermost Ebro River (Catalonia, Spain). 2012.” Water Research. 46 (11): 3671-3681. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.04.014.
Grant agreement number
MICINN/Programa Nacional de Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental/CGL2008-01442/ES/Modelización de los cambios en la hidrodinamica del flujo y el transporte de sedimentos por la aparición masiva de macrofitos en el tramo bajo del rio Ebro/
Program
Aigües Marines i Continentals
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- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
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