Determination of the liquid and solid discharge ratio and analysis of factors influencing the dynamics of sediment transport in the Jordão River Watershed (UPGRH-PN 1)

ABSTRACT

Understanding the sediment flow is fundamental for the proper management and use of the water resources. The lack of planning in the use and occupation of land, marked by irrational anthropogenic actions, directly influences the sediment dynamics in river basins throughout the national territory. In this sense, the objectives of this article were to determine sediment discharges, to analyze factors that can influence sediment dynamics in the basin and to construct the key curves that represent the relationship between the solid and liquid flow of the Jordão River. The study was carried out in the Jordão River Basin. Four sampling stations were established, and nine campaigns were carried out to measure flows and water samples for the analysis of suspended sediments during dry and rainy seasons from August 2017 to July 2018. The concentrations and discharges of sediment presented variations between the seasons and sampling periods. In the rainy season, the values of discharges and concentrations were higher than in the dry season. The highest mean concentration was 101.16 mg.L^-1at station 3, and the highest total solid discharge occurred at station 4 with a mean value of 113.83 t.d^-1. In addition to precipitation, factors such as vegetation cover, land use and slope are influencing the sediment dynamics in the Jordão River. The key curves of suspended and total sediments obtained for each season and the bound data from all stations showed good correlations.

Keywords:
sedimentology; Colby's method; discharge of sediments; Jordão River Watershed