| Abstract | Flow and the sediment regime affect water quality and nutrient delivery in all river systems and are fundamental
in sustaining the river ecosystem. This study aims to identify the most relevant factors affecting the flow regime
and the suspended sediment transport in two Mediterranean intermittent rivers: the Búger (Spain) and the
Carapelle (Italy). A set of hydrological indicators were used to characterize and classify the flow regime. Highresolution
data, streamflow and suspended sediment concentration were used to quantify runoff and sediment
yields at different temporal scales (annual, monthly, event). Rainfall, streamflow and sediment variables were
used at the event scale to assess the rainfall-runoff-suspended sediment relationship through the Pearson correlation
matrix. Hysteresis analysis provided information on sediment source dynamics. In the Búger River, the
high degree of flow intermittence was mainly due to the presence of carbonate lithology and forest land use at
headwaters promoting low values of runoff coefficient (2-10%) and specific suspended sediment yield (SSY;
0.5-46 t km-2 y-1). In the Carapelle River, the high values of annual runoff coefficient (14-35%), together with
low flow intermittence and SSY (89-745 t km-2 y-1) were related to clay and flyschoid lithology. Most of the
annual sediment yield (SY, t) was transported during floods. In Búger, SSY and maximum suspended sediment
concentration (SSCmax, g l-1) were checked against runoff, peak discharge and antecedent rainfall. In Carapelle,
SSY and SSCmax were checked against the amount and intensity of rainfall. The catchment size and the spatial
distribution of rainfall, land uses and lithology played important roles in the flow regime, suspended sediment
transport and hysteretic behaviour. Characterization of the flow regime linked to its main physical drivers
improved understanding of the hydrological response and sediment transport variability of intermittent rivers.
This study provided valuable insights into water resource management, improving the prediction of spatial
patterns and of the intensity of sediment transport in river basins. |
| Text | 433704 2020 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104865 Mediterranean catchment Intermittent river hydrological regime suspended sediment transport Analysing hydrological and sediment transport regime in two Mediterranean intermittent rivers Josep Fortesa, Giovanni Francesco Ricci, Julian Garcia Comendador, Francesco Gentile, Joan Estrany, Eric Sauquet, Thibault Datry, Anna Maria De Girolamo Institute of Agro Environmental and Water Economy Research INAGEA, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy Institute of Agro Environmental and Water Economy Research INAGEA, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy Institute of Agro Environmental and Water Economy Research INAGEA, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain INRAE, UR RiverLy, centre de Lyon Grenoble Auvergne Rhone Alpes, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France INRAE, UR RiverLy, centre de Lyon Grenoble Auvergne Rhone Alpes, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Water Research Institute, National Research Council, 70132 Bari, Italy Flow and the sediment regime affect water quality and nutrient delivery in all river systems and are fundamental in sustaining the river ecosystem. This study aims to identify the most relevant factors affecting the flow regime and the suspended sediment transport in two Mediterranean intermittent rivers the Buger Spain and the Carapelle Italy . A set of hydrological indicators were used to characterize and classify the flow regime. Highresolution data, streamflow and suspended sediment concentration were used to quantify runoff and sediment yields at different temporal scales annual, monthly, event . Rainfall, streamflow and sediment variables were used at the event scale to assess the rainfall runoff suspended sediment relationship through the Pearson correlation matrix. Hysteresis analysis provided information on sediment source dynamics. In the Buger River, the high degree of flow intermittence was mainly due to the presence of carbonate lithology and forest land use at headwaters promoting low values of runoff coefficient 2 10% and specific suspended sediment yield SSY; 0.5 46 t km 2 y 1 . In the Carapelle River, the high values of annual runoff coefficient 14 35% , together with low flow intermittence and SSY 89 745 t km 2 y 1 were related to clay and flyschoid lithology. Most of the annual sediment yield SY, t was transported during floods. In Buger, SSY and maximum suspended sediment concentration SSCmax, g l 1 were checked against runoff, peak discharge and antecedent rainfall. In Carapelle, SSY and SSCmax were checked against the amount and intensity of rainfall. The catchment size and the spatial distribution of rainfall, land uses and lithology played important roles in the flow regime, suspended sediment transport and hysteretic behaviour. Characterization of the flow regime linked to its main physical drivers improved understanding of the hydrological response and sediment transport variability of intermittent rivers. This study provided valuable insights into water resource management, improving the prediction of spatial patterns and of the intensity of sediment transport in river basins. 196 Published version Articolo in rivista Catenian Association 0008 7769 Catena London Catena London Catena London Journal of the Catenian Association London annamaria.degirolamo DE GIROLAMO ANNA MARIA |
