Author(s): Kyungsu Lee; Siwan Lyu; Sang Hwa Jung
Linked Author(s): Sang Hwa Jung
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Accurate estimation of suspended sediment discharge in large rivers remains challenging due to pronounced cross-sectional heterogeneity in hydraulic and sediment transport processes. Conventional depth-integrated sampling approaches assume limited lateral variability and may therefore introduce uncertainty in wide alluvial rivers. This study investigates cross-sectional spatial distribution characteristics of suspended sediment based on field measurements conducted at three sites in a large river basin in Korea. Flow velocity was measured using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), and suspended sediment concentration profiles were obtained using a Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry (LISST) instrument. Spatially distributed velocity and concentration data were integrated to estimate suspended sediment discharge and compared with conventional depth-integrated approaches. Results show that sediment concentration exhibits stronger lateral variability than velocity, and peak sediment flux does not necessarily coincide with maximum velocity zones. These findings highlight the importance of explicitly accounting for cross-sectional heterogeneity in sediment flux assessment.
Year: 2026