Spatial and temporal variability of sediment deposition on artificial-lawn traps in a floodplain of the River Elbe

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 148; no. 3; pp. 770 - 778
• Main Authors: Baborowski, M., Büttner, O., Morgenstern, P., Krüger, F., Lobe, I., Rupp, H., Tümpling, W. v.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2007
• Subjects: Arsenic - analysis; chemical composition; Disasters; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Floodplain; floodplains; floods; Freshwater; geochemistry; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Germany; hydrochemistry; lawns and turf; Measurement strategy; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Rivers; sediment contamination; sediment deposition; Sediment input; sediment transport; Spatial distribution; spatial variation; temporal variation; Time Factors; Trace elements; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Supply; Germany; Europe, Elbe R; Measurement strategy; Trace elements; Spatial distribution; Sediment input; Floodplain
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.01.032

Artificial-lawn mats were used as sediment traps in floodplains to measure sediment input and composition during flood events. To estimate the natural variability, 10 traps were installed during two flood waves at three different morphological units in a meander loop of the River Elbe. The geochemical composition of deposited and suspended matter was compared. The sediment input showed weak correlations with concentration and composition of river water. It also correlated poorly with flood duration and level as well as distance of trap position from the main river. This is due to the high variability of the inundation, different morphological conditions and the variability of sources. The composition of the deposits and the suspended matter in the river water was comparable. Hence, for the investigated river reach, the expected pollution of the floodplain sediments can be derived from the pollution of the suspended matter in the river during the flood wave.
The deposition of polluted sediments on floodplains is characterised by a high local variability.