Effect of adaptive cluster sampling design on accuracy of sediment rating curve estimation.

Adaptive cluster sampling represents a design whereby more samples during high storm hydrographs can be obtained in the field compared to the commonly used calendar-based. To compare the effect of these sampling designs on accuracy of sediment rating curve estimation, we performed a study for Gorgan-Rood River, Iran by synthesizing sample sets from daily records. The load estimates obtained by conventional, two bias-corrected, and logged mean load within discharge classes (LMLWDCs) rating curves were statistically evaluated. All rating curves derived from calendar-based sample sets–except those with a nonparametric correction factor–underestimated the average load from 25 to 76%. Rating curves derived from adaptive sample sets, however, increased the sediment load to as much as 30%. Among this group of rating curves, LMLWDC produced the most accurate results with only 3% overestimation and a coefficient of variation in the order of 14% when the sampling frequency was semiweekly. The more accurate estimates from adaptive sample sets are likely due to the inclusion of more samples from high load periods.

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