Assessment of variability in fluvial sediment transfers in Karkevagge (N-Sweden) during the last 50 years

The Karkevagge (Abisko area, Northern Sweden) represents a focus research b asin concerning geomorphic processes and sediment budgets for the last 50 y ears. Different geomorphic process studies provide comparative data sets co ncerning climate variability implications on sediment transfers. While moni toring of sediment transfers is discontinuous with respect to study periods and methods, a detailed chronology of high:magnitude events with significa nt sediment displacement is available. In continuation of these studies, in vestigations in 1995 and 1998 as part of the MOSAIC project (Modelling Of S nowmelt And Its Consequences) are concentrating on snowmelt-induced slushfl ow initiation and transports of sediments in several small headwater catchm ents during the snowmelt period. Main purpose of the investigations is to c haracterize different catchment sections in terms of their hydrologic and s edimentologic contribution to the total fluvial and sediment budget of the basin, and to evaluate their specific sensitivity related to changes in atm ospheric boundary conditions. By means of these data sets, the temporal var iability of fluvial sediment transfers can be assessed over different time scales. The paper focuses on a description of different sections in the flu vial sediment transfer system in Karkevagge. By comparing results from rece nt field investigations with data from former studies, the significance of rainfall- and snowmelt-triggered events for sediment transfers is evaluated .