Measurement and Analysis of Suspended Sediment Loads in Streams

The measurement a nd the analysis of flu vial sediment have been the subjects of a cooperative study conducted since 1939 by several agencies of the United States government. In this paper the various phases of the study which pertain to suspended sediment, particularly the history of sediment research and the equipment and methods u se d in making suspended sediment measurements, are reviewed. Theoretical and experimental analyses of the phenomena of sediment transportation, and the basic principles for accurate sampling, are set forth. During the course of the study a new laboratory apparatus, a sedimentation tube for making particle size analyses of sediment samples, and two new types of suspended sediment samplers were developed. The US D-43, depth-integration sampler, is designed for sampling throughout the depth of the stream whereas the US P-46, point-integration sampler, is used principally for samplin g at a point, but may be used equally as well for depth integration.