Determination of the maximum run‐off sediment transport capacity during a rainstorm flood in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau

Abstract

The channel sediment transport capacity is an important parameter in soil erosion models, and it determines the proportion of soil erosion that is sent outside the watershed. However, the calculation and judgment methods for the sediment transport capacity of channel are still incomplete, and further research is needed. Therefore, this paper takes Chabagou, a typical watershed in the hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau, as an example and, based on the measured hydrological and sediment data collected during rainstorm floods in 1961–1969 at three hydrological stations, Caoping, Shejiagou, and Tuanshangou, studies the sediment transport capacity of channels in a small watershed from the perspective of energy dissipation. Clearly, the sediment transport capacity is better determined by using a single flood and sediment concentration peak process. The discriminant conditions are determined for the sediment concentration to reach sediment transport capacity during the flood rising and falling sections of the sediment process of the small watershed storm flood. When determining sediment transport capacity based on the characteristics of the flood and sediment concentration peak, we find that sediment transport capacity is reached in the flood discharge peak when the flood discharge peak occurs earlier than the sediment concentration peak. When determining sediment transport capacity based on the flow discharge and sediment concentration characteristics of the sediment fall section, we find that when the flood event exhibits a counterclockwise hysteresis curve and a time‐lagged effect occurs, the sediment concentration at that time reaches sediment transport capacity. In this study, the sediment concentration as a function of run‐off amount is logarithmic at different subbasin scales when run‐off reaches its maximum capacity to transport sediment. The R2 is high, ranging from 0.78 to 0.92. The results of this research provide a reference for the study of sediment transport capacity.