Pacific Southwest Research Station

Publications and Products

General Technical Report

Title: Piecewise SALT sampling for estimating suspended sediment yields

Author: Thomas, Robert B.

Date: 1989

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-114. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 11 p

Station ID: GTR-PSW-114

Description: A probability sampling method called SALT (Selection At List Time) has been developed for collecting and summarizing data on delivery of suspended sediment in rivers. It is based on sampling and estimating yield using a suspended-sediment rating curve for high discharges and simple random sampling for low flows. The method gives unbiased estimates of total yield and variance. The technique has been modified by replacing the rating curve with a user-specified average sampling rate function. This function allows easier specification of field sampling parameters for specified conditions and helps avoid the extremes of data collection. It also improves the distribution of samples if the intent is to estimate suspended sediment yield during storms specified after data collection. This form of SALT sampling is called Piecewise SALT sampling.

Key Words: suspended sediment, sampling, probability sampling, measurement, SALT sampling

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Citation

Thomas, Robert B.  1989.  Piecewise SALT sampling for estimating suspended sediment yields  Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-114. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 11 p.