The influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties

In order to investigate the influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties, suspended sediment samples were collected from the outlets of 60 small catchments located throughout Southwest England over a 14-month period. The catchments were selected to provide a representative range of topographic, land use, soil and geological characteristics. The suspended sediment samples were collected using time-integrating trap samplers, emptied at monthly intervals. Laboratory analysis focused on a selection of suspended sediment properties, including particle size composition, cation exchange capacity, and organic carbon, nitrogen, metal, radionuclide and phosphorus content. The results presented show that despite the substantial variability of catchment characteristics associated with the 60 sampling sites, the suspended sediment properties generally fell within a relatively limited range. However, statistical analysis identified significant spatial variability of suspended sediment within Southwest England, which in turn can be linked to catchment characteristics.