Sediment budgets on reclaimed coal-surface mines in central Pennsylvania

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7182771

Gryta, J J

Sediment budget investigations conducted within small scale (less than 21 hectares) reclaimed coal surface mine watersheds in central Pennsylvania document a complex spatial and temporal movement of sediment. Surface elevation measurements taken along eight different slope types over nearly one-and-one-half years following surface reclamation reveal that surfaces alternately aggrade and degrade. Sediment movement due to slope wash and rill processes decline during the second year following reclamation. The spatial movement of sediment along these surfaces is influenced by slope type and position. Convex converging slope forms yield more sediment via rilling than do non-converging slope types. Multiple linear regression suggests that drainage basin length, maximum outslope relief, and the sum of drainage elements within reclaimed watersheds influence gully erosion for at least seven years following reclamation. Cross-profile surveys, rainfall, discharge, and grain size data taken over three years within two active gully-fan systems indicate that sediment production varies within seasonal and event-by-event time scales. Knickpoint and gully channel segments within active gully-fan systems display cyclic aggradation and degradation during fall through spring and summer, respectively. Gully aggradation is initiated in the fall due to mass wasting of sidewalls and accelerates during the winter and early spring due to freeze-thaw. Early summer, intense storms erode sediment from within the gully, increasing sediment storage along the fan. Subsequent intense storms mobilize remaining sediment stored within the gully and produce additional sediment through knickpoint and gully channel scour.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7182771
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEPOSITION
DRAINAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION III
LAND RECLAMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLE SIZE
PENNSYLVANIA
RAIN
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
SIZE
STATISTICS
SURFACE MINING
SURVEYS
TIME DEPENDENCE
USA
VARIATIONS
WATERSHEDS