Abstract
The measurements of discharge and fluvial sediment transport carried out in a semi-arid catchment of the High Andes of Cuyo show that the concentration of suspended sediment increases as the catchment area becomes larger, whereas the discharge shows only a minimal increase further downstream or even a decrease in certain parts, due to the high rates of seepage and evaporation. The discharge and suspended sediment yield of a tributary basin (covering 57 km2) was measured over a period of 5 months, from November 1990 until April 1991. With mean values of discharge of 0.35 m3/s and peaks of up to 1.5 m3/s the total suspended sediment yield was 249 tons, i.e. 4.4. g/m2. During one week in January 1991 the Agua Negra river showed suspended sediment yields ranging between 17.9 t in its upper course (57 km2) and 263.6 t in its lower course (617 km2). Compared with the suspended sediment yield which is clearly dominant in sediment transport the bedload is very low. However the analysis of the morphology and stratigraphy of some terraces indicates flood events in the past with sediment transports much higher than today’s.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
BAKER, V. R. (1989): Magnitude and frequency of paleofloods.—In: BEVEN, K. and CARLING, P. (eds.): Floods: Hydrological, sedimentological and geomorphological implications: 171–183.
BAKER, V. R., KOCHEL, C. R., PATTON, P. C. and PICKUP, G. (1983): Paleohydrologic analysis of Holocene flood slack-water sediments.—In: COLLINSON, D. J. and LEWIN, J. (eds.): Modern and ancient fluvial systems, International association of Sedimentologists, Special publication 6: 229–239.
BARSCH, D., GUDE, M., MÄUSBACHER, R., SCHUKRAFT, G. and SCHULTE, A. (1992): Untersuchungen zur aktuellen fluvialen Dynamik im Bereich des Liefdefjorden in NW-Spitzbergen.—In: Stuttgarter Geographische Studien, Bd. 117: 217–252.
GINTZ, D. and SCHMIDT, K.-H. (1991): Grobgechiebetransport in einem Gebirgsbach als Funktion von Gerinnebettform und Geschiebemorphometrie.—In: Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, Supplement-Band 89: 63–72.
GOMEZ, B. (1987): Bedload.—In: GURNELL, A. M. and CLARK, M. G. (eds.): Glaciofluvial sediment transfer: 355–368. GURNELL, A. M. (1987a): Suspended Sediment.—In: GURNELL, A. M. & CLARK, M. G. (eds.): Glacio-fluvial sediment transfer: 355–366.
GURNELL, A. M. (1987a): Suspended sediment.—In: GURNELL, A. M. and CLARK, M. G. (eds.): Glacio-fluvial sediment transfer: 305–345.
GURNELL, A. M. (1987b): Fluvial sediment yield from alpine, glacierized catchments.—In: GURNELL, A. M. and CLARK, M. G. (eds.): Glacio-fluvial sediment transfer: 415–418.
HAPPOLDT, H. and SCHROTT, L. (1992): A note on ground thermal regimes and global solar radiation at 4720 m a.s.l., High Andes of Argentina.—In: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, Vol 3: 241–245.
MAIZELS, J. K. (1983): Proglacial channel systems: channel and thresholds for change over long, intermediate and short timescales.—In: COLLINSON, D. J. and LEWIN, J. (eds.): Modern and ancient fluvial systems, International Association of Sedimentologists, Special publication 6: 251–266.
MINETTI, J. L. and SIERRA, E. M. (1989): The influence of general circulation patterns on humid and dry years in the Cuyo Andean Region of Argentina.—In: International Journal of Climatology, Vol.9: 55–68.
NANSON, G. C. (1974): Bedload and suspended-load transport in a small, steep, mountain stream.—In: American Journal of Science, Vol 274: 471–486.
RICKENMANN, D. (1990): Bedload transport capacity of slurry flows at steep slopes. Mitt. der Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie der ETH Zürich, 103: 249pp.
SCHMIDT, K.-H. and ERGENZINGER, P. (1992): Bedload entrainment, travel lengths, step lengths, rest periods-studied with passive (iron, magnetic) and active (radio) tracer techniques.—In: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 17: 147–165.
SCHROTT, L. (1991): Global solar radiation, soil temperature and permafrost in the Central Andes, Argentina: a progress report.—In: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, Vol 2: 59–66.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer-Verlag
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Barsch, D., Happoldt, H., Mäusbacher, R., Schrott, L., Schukraft, G. (1994). Discharge and fluvial sediment transport in a semi-arid high mountain catchment, Agua Negra, San Juan, Argentina. In: Ergenzinger, P., Schmidt, KH. (eds) Dynamics and Geomorphology of Mountain Rivers. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 52. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117841
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117841
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57569-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48235-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive