The influence of flow discharge on sediment concentrations in raindrop induced flow transport

Abstract

In laboratory experiments, gentle flows over 200 µm sand were impacted by 2.7 mm drops travelling at near terminal velocity. The sediment concentrations generated by raindrop induced flow transport (RIFT) decreased with discharge. The decrease was associated with changes in flow depth. Variations in discharge associated with changes in flow velocity did not significantly influence the sediment concentration. The non-significant influence of flow velocity on sediment concentration was the result of a direct relationship between flow velocity and the frequency of drop impact in the active region associated with the movement of soil past any given point on the surface.