On statistical properties of bed load sediment concentration

Abstract

Data from a long‐duration laboratory experiment involving optical measurements of moving particles in a bed load layer are presented. The data analysis is focused on identification of (1) the effects of the spatial measuring scale on concentration estimates, (2) statistical and scaling properties of sediment concentration, and (3) relationships between near‐bed turbulent flow and sediment motion. The obtained results are integrated into a conceptual model that can be instrumental in studying statistical properties of solid transport rate, which, in most cases, can be linearly associated with the particle concentration.