Correlations between suspended sediment load rating parameters, river basin
morphology, and climate provide information about the physical controls on
the sediment load in rivers and are used to create predictive equations fo
r the sediment rating parameters. Long-term time-averaged values of dischar
ge, suspended load, flow duration, flow peakedness, and temporally averaged
values of precipitation, temperature, and range in temperature were couple
d with the drainage area and basin relief to establish statistical relation
ships with the sediment rating parameters for 59 gauging stations. Rating p
arameters (a and b) are defined by a power law relating daily discharge val
ues of a river (Q) and its sediment concentration C-s, where C-s = aQ(b). T
he rating coefficient n (the mathematical concentration at Q = 1 m(3)/s) is
inversely proportional to the long-term mean discharge and is secondarily
related to the average air temperature and the basin's topographic relief.
The rating exponent b (the log-log slope of the power law) correlates most
strongly with the average air temperature and basin relief and has lesser c
orrelations with the long-term load of the river (which is related to basin
relief and drainage area). The rating equation describes the long-term cha
racter of the suspended sediment load in a river. Each river undergoes high
er-frequency variability (decadal, interannual, and storm event) around thi
s characteristic response, controlled by weather patterns and channel recov
ery from extreme precipitation events.