Improving precision in sediment source and erosion process distinction in an upland catchment, south-eastern Australia

Abstract

Analysis of sediment sources is an important component in the development of catchment sediment budgets and in determining links between erosion from sources and sediment delivery to catchment outlets. In this study 137Cs and 210Pbex were used to determine surface and sub-surface source contributions of fine sediment in a small upland headwater catchment (1.6 km2) in south-eastern Australia. The findings from this analysis are employed in an adjustment procedure to better differentiate sediment source erosion processes by utilising channel survey and erosion pin data. This improved the precision of estimates of sediment-source erosion-process contributions from hillslopes and channel/gully w..