Post-fire changes in sediment rating curves in a wet Eucalyptus forest in SE Australia

Abstract

Empirical power law sediment rating curves of the form C= aQb (where C is the sediment concentration, Q is the discharge rate, and the coefficient a and exponent b are fitted parameters), or the alternative form given by log(Qs) = log(a) + (b+ 1)log(Q) (where Qs= CQ is the sediment delivery rate, and the natural logarithm is used) are widely used for characterising sediment transport across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. Fire frequently has a large effect on erosion rates and sediment delivery. We investigate the temporal changes in the coefficient a and exponent b for 3. years following a wildfire between February 2003 and April 2006, for two South Eastern Australian Eucalypt..