Salt Release Model for Suspended Sediments

Abstract

Fluvial sediment has been reported a natural diffuse source of salinity in the Upper Colorado River Basin. This paper describes experimental and mathematical modeling to identify major factors controlling salt release from suspended sediments. Salt release characteristics of suspended sediments were studied using sediments from various locations in the Price River Basin, a tributary to the Colorado River. The sediments were mixed with water in the laboratory and the change in electrical conductivity of the solutions was monitored while varying the following factors: dilution, particle size, mixing velocity, and initial electrical conductivity. The Buckingham Pi Theorem was employed to develop equations for predicting the electrical conductivity of sediment‐water solutions as a function of factors controlling salt release from suspended sediments. The salt release equations were verified with additional laboratory data. In a companion paper incorporation of the salt release equations into a watershed erosion and sediment transport model as a salinity source submodel is described.