RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Quantifying relative contributions from sediment sources in Conservation Effects Assessment Project watersheds
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 523
OP 532
DO 10.2489/jswc.63.6.523
VO 63
IS 6
A1 C.G. Wilson
A1 R.A. Kuhnle
A1 D.D. Bosch
A1 J.L. Steiner
A1 P.J. Starks
A1 M.D. Tomer
A1 G.V. Wilson
YR 2008
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/63/6/523.abstract
AB A technique using the relationship between the naturally occurring radionuclide tracers, 7Be and 210Pbxs, was used to differentiate eroded surface soils and channel-derived sediments in the fine suspended sediment loads of runoff events in five Conservation Effects Assessment Project watersheds. A simple two end-member mixing model was used to determine the relative contribution from each source. Results suggest that eroded surface soils were more prevalent in the suspended load early in a runoff event, but channel contributions dominated the suspended load at later stages. The method proved useful for multiple sites due to a constant proportion of the atmospheric deliveries of the two radionuclides globally. Use of only two radionuclide tracers simplifies the differentiation of sediment sources within a watershed but limits precision.