ORCID
- Enrique Munoz Arcos: 0000-0003-1485-3613
Abstract
Excess fine sediment supply and associated contaminants can have detrimental effects on water quality and river ecology, with sediment deposition on, and subsequent infiltration into, streambed substrate impacting riverine habitats. Significant research has assessed the magnitude, controls, and impacts of fine sediment in river channels. Assessment of the associated time scales, however, across these three domains has received less attention due in part to the complexity of river basin sediment dynamics. Fallout radionuclides (FRNs) applied as particle tracers in aquatic ecosystems can address this challenge. Herein, this research aimed to evaluate sediment storage time through application and development of FRN tools for improved management of legacy and contemporary river basin pollution. For this purpose, the application of FRNs as sediment residence/storage time tracers was reviewed and challenges, opportunities and research needs were highlighted. Drawing upon identified research gaps, the variability of FRNs in river channels was assessed and fine sediment and associated contaminant storage and turnover were then evaluated in the channel of the River Avon, Devon, UK. Furthermore, the controls on the 7Be distribution were investigated in the River Fal, UK, for improved evaluation of storage times. Findings emphasised the role of local channel characteristics, physico-chemical processes and the magnitude and frequency of floods in controlling the distribution of FRNs, and consequently, sediment storage times and turnover. In addition, changes in dominant sediment sources were revealed as a key control on the occurrence of particulate contaminants, highlighting the synergistic effects between sediment sources, river flow and channel morphology in controlling the transport, deposition and resuspension of sediment-associated contaminants. This study demonstrates that FRN technology offers improved understanding of fine sediment and associated contaminant storage and turnover in river channel systems, which is vital to aid sediment management, river restoration and to tackle the global challenge of siltation and associated pollution.
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Date
2025
Embargo Period
2025-03-25
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Munoz Arcos, E. (2025) Evaluating sediment storage time for improved management of river basin pollution. Thesis. University of Plymouth. Retrieved from https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/gees-theses/464
