Water sample processing and analysis
Individual water samples from each sampled storm event were selected to
represent the full extent of the storm hydrograph and analysed for
suspended sediment concentration. Water samples were refrigerated at 5°C
following collection until analysis. Suspended sediment content was
assessed by filtering a sub-sample of water of known volume through
Whatman GF/C filter paper (Whatman, Buckinghamshire, UK) with a particle
retention size of 1.2 µm, drying at 105°C and weighing to assess the
mass gained {UK Standing Committee of Analysts, 1980 #597}. Load
estimation of suspended sediment was calculated by multiplying discharge
volume (L) by the concentration of suspended sediment (mg
L-1) for each sample point. Total loads were
calculated using trapezoidal integration of the timeseries curve.