ASTM D4410-16

Terminology for Fluvial Sediment

SCOPE
1.1 These terms are to be used by persons involved in collecting, reporting, and interpreting information pertaining to sedimentation and hydrologic processes as they apply in the development, use, control, and conservation of water and land resources.  
1.2 Some listed terms and definitions are from other ASTM standards and the source document is given in bold type at the end of the definition.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2015
• ICS: 01.040.07 - Natural and applied sciences (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 07.060 - Geology. Meteorology. Hydrology
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.07 - Sediments, Geomorphology, and Open-Channel Flow

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4410-10 - Terminology for Fluvial Sediment
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2016
• Refers: ASTM D6855-17(2023) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Static Mode
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D6698-12 - Standard Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Water
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2012
• Refers: ASTM D6855-10 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Static Mode
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2010
• Refers: ASTM D5640-95(2008) - Standard Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM D5614-94(2008) - Standard Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Broad-Crested Weirs
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM D5674-95(2008) - Standard Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM D6698-07 - Standard Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Water
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2007
• Refers: ASTM D5614-94(2003) - Standard Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Broad-Crested Weirs
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM D5674-95(2003) - Standard Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM D5640-95(2003) - Standard Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM D6855-03 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Static Mode
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Refers: ASTM D6698-01 - Standard Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2001
• Refers: ASTM D5640-95(1999) - Standard Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Refers: ASTM D5674-95(1999) - Standard Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999

Overview

ASTM D4410-16: Terminology for Fluvial Sediment is an ASTM International standard designed to unify and clarify terminology used by professionals working with sedimentation and hydrologic processes. This standard supports consistent communication, measurement, and reporting of fluvial sediment processes, which are essential in the development, use, control, and preservation of water and land resources. It is an authoritative resource for practitioners, researchers, and agencies engaged in the collection, reporting, and interpretation of sediment data. All values are provided in SI units, as per the standard.

Key Topics

ASTM D4410-16 covers critical terminology related to fluvial sediment, sediment transport, and associated hydrologic and geomorphologic processes. The standard includes:

• Definitions of core terms such as fluvial sediment, sediment load, bed-load, suspended sediment, turbidity, accretion, aggradation, and degradation
• Explanations of sampling methods and devices: depth-integrated sampling, point-integrated samples, suspended-sediment sampler, bag sampler, pumping sampler
• Classifications for sediment by size (clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobble, and boulder) based on the American Geophysical Union (AGU) scale
• Processes and phenomena affecting sediment transport and deposition, such as erosion (accelerated and geologic), siltation, scour, sorting, armoring, and more
• Common sedimentary features: alluvial channels, alluvial fans, deltas, point bars, oxbow lakes, ripples, dunes, antidunes, and floodplain processes
• Hydrologic terms related to flow and discharge, including base flow, stream discharge, unit bed-load discharge, runoff, and drainage basin
• Instrumentation and measurement techniques for parameters like turbidity, using turbidimeters, nephelometers, and calibration standards

Applications

The standard’s terminology underpins a variety of practical activities, including:

• Sediment sampling and monitoring in rivers, streams, lakes, floodplains, and reservoirs
• Design and implementation of erosion and sediment control measures for civil engineering, construction, and environmental protection projects
• Reporting and interpreting sediment data for compliance, research, and resource management purposes
• Hydrologic modeling of sediment transport for watershed management, flood risk assessment, and infrastructure planning
• Water quality assessments involving turbidity and sediment concentration measurements
• Geomorphological studies for river restoration, channel design, and habitat conservation
• Compliance with regulatory and environmental guidelines requiring standardized sediment characterization and reporting

The comprehensive, standardized terminology of ASTM D4410-16 promotes clear communication among water resource managers, engineers, scientists, regulators, and policy-makers.

Related Standards

ASTM D4410-16 references and supports usage of several related ASTM standards, including:

• ASTM D5614: Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Broad-Crested Weirs
• ASTM D5640: Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water
• ASTM D5674: Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
• ASTM D6855: Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Static Mode
• ASTM D6698: Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Water
• ASTM D7937: Test Method for In-situ Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Surface Water

These related standards provide detailed methodologies supporting the accurate measurement and reporting of fluvial sediment and associated hydrological characteristics, ensuring robust water and sediment quality management practices.

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Keywords: ASTM D4410-16, fluvial sediment terminology, sediment transport, sediment sampling, hydrologic processes, turbidity measurement, ASTM standards, sedimentation, water resources, SI units, erosion, sediment load, standard terminology.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4410 − 16
Terminology for
Fluvial Sediment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4410; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope accretion, n—a process of sediment accumulation.
1.1 These terms are to be used by persons involved in
agglomeration or flocculation, n—the coalescence of dis-
collecting, reporting, and interpreting information pertaining to
persed suspended matter into large flocs or particles which
sedimentation and hydrologic processes as they apply in the
settle rapidly.
development, use, control, and conservation of water and land
aggradation, n—the geologic process by which stream beds,
resources.
floodplains,andthebottomsofotherwaterbodiesareraised
1.2 Some listed terms and definitions are from otherASTM
in elevation by the deposition of material eroded and
standards and the source document is given in bold type at the
transported by water from other areas.
end of the definition.
alluvial channel, n—see alluvial stream.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
alluvial deposit, n—sediment deposited by the action of
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
moving water.
standard.
alluvial fans, n—sediment deposited in the shape of a segment
2. Referenced Documents
of a cone formed because of a sudden flattening of a stream
gradient especially at debouchures of tributaries on main
2.1 ASTM Standards:
stream flood plains.
D5614 Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement
of Water with Broad-Crested Weirs
alluvial stream, n—a stream whose boundary is composed of
D5640 Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-
appreciable quantities of the sediments transported by the
Channel Flow Measurement of Water
flowandwhichgenerallychangesitsbedformsastherateof
D5674 Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
flow changes.
D6855 Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5
alluviation, n—the process of accumulating sediment deposits
NTU in Static Mode
at places where the flow is retarded.
D6698 Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity
Below 5 NTU in Water
alluvium, n—a general term for all fluvial deposits resulting
D7937 Test Method for In-situ Determination of Turbidity
directly or indirectly from the sediment transport of (mod-
Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Surface Water
ern) streams, thus including the sediments laid down in
riverbeds, flood plains, lakes, fans, and estuaries.
3. Terminology
ambient light, n—light or optical path or both that does not
3.1 Terms and Definitions:
originate from the light source of a turbidimeter. D7937
accelerated erosion, n—erosion at a rate greater than geologic
or natural erosion.
antidunes, n—bed forms that occur at a velocity higher than
DISCUSSION—Accelerated erosion is usually associated with anthro-
that velocity which forms dunes and plane beds.
pogenic activities and usually reduces plant cover and increases runoff.
DISCUSSION—Antidunes commonly move upstream, and are accom-
panied by, and in phase with, waves on the water surface.
armoring, n—the formation of a resistant layer of relatively
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, large particles by erosion of the finer particles.
Geomorphology, and Open-Channel Flow.
attenuation, n—the amount of incident light that is scattered
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2016. Published February 2016. Originally
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D4410 – 10. DOI:
and absorbed before reaching a detector, which is geometri-
10.1520/D4410-16.
cally centered at 180° relative to the centerline of the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
incident light beam. D7937
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
DISCUSSION—Attenuation is inversely proportional to transmitted
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. signal.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4410 − 16
DISCUSSION—These standards may be used to calibrate the instru-
Attenuated Turbidity 5 Absorbed Light1Scattered Light (1)
ment.All meters should read equivalent values for formazin standards.
DISCUSSION—The application of attenuation in this test method is as
SDVB-standardreadingsareinstrumentspecificandshouldnotbeused
a distinct means of measuring turbidity. When measured in the FAU or
on meters that do not have defined values specified for that instrument.
AU mode, the turbidity value is a combination of scattered (attenuated)
Calibration standards that exceed 10 000 turbidity units are commer-
light plus absorbed light. The scattered light is affected by particle size
cially available.
and is a positive response. The absorption due to color is a negative
calibration-verification standards, n—defined standards used
response. The sum of these two responses results in the turbidity value
in the appropriate unit.
to verify the instrument performance in the measurement
range of interest. D7937
automatic power control (APC), n—the regulation of light
DISCUSSION—Calibration-verification standards may not be used to
power from a source such that illumination of the sample
adjust instrument calibration, but only to check that the instrument
remains constant with time and temperature. D7937
measurements are in the expected range. Examples of calibration-
verification standards are opto-mechanical light-scatter devices, gel-
avulsion, n—a sudden, natural change of a stream channel, so
like standards, or any other type of stable liquid standard. Calibration-
that the water flows elsewhere than in its previous course.
verification standards may be instrument-design specific.
channel, n—anaturalorartificialwaterwaythatperiodicallyor
bag sampler, n—a sampler that utilizes a collapsible bag as the
sample collection container. continuously contains moving water.
channel-fill deposits, n—deposits of sediment within a
base flow, n—stream flow that is sustained by ground water
channel, partly or completely filling the channel.
and other delayed sources.
DISCUSSION—Such materials accumulate where the transporting ca-
bed-load, n—material moving on or near the stream bed by pacity has been insufficient to remove it as rapidly as it has been
delivered.
rolling, sliding, and skipping.
classic gully, n—a channel that is formed by gully erosion and
bed-load discharge, n—the quantity of bed-load passing a
is not interrupted by mechanical tillage operations to fill the
cross section of a stream in a unit of time.
resulting void.
bed-load sampler, n—a device for sampling the bed-load.
DISCUSSION—Gully depth can exceed 30 m. (see gully erosion.)
clay size (fluvial sediment), n—0.00024 to 0.004 mm in
bed material, n—the sediment mixture of which the stream
diameter.
bed is composed.
coagulation, n—the agglomeration of colloidal or finely di-
bed-material discharge, n—that part of the total sediment
vided suspended matter caused by the addition to the liquid
discharge composed of grain sizes occurring in appreciable
of an appropriate chemical coagulant, by biological
quantities in the bed material.
processes, or by other means (see also agglomeration).
bed-material load, n—that part of the total load which is
cobble size (fluvial sediment), n—64 to 256 mm in diameter.
composed of particle sizes present in appreciable quantities
in the shifting portions of the stream bed.
cohesive sediments, n—that material whose resistance to
initial movement or erosion depends upon the strength of the
broadband, white-light source, n—a visible-light source that
bond between particles.
has a full bandwidth at half of the source’s maximum
intensity (FWHM) located at wavelengths greater than 200
colloids (fluvial sediment), n—smaller than 0.00024 mm in
nm. D7937
diameter.
DISCUSSION—Tungsten-filament lamps (TFLs) and white LEDs are
colluvial deposits, n—that material accumulated along valley
examples of broadband sources.
margins by mass movements from the adjacent hillsides.
bottomset bed, n—fine-grained material (usually silts and
color, n—the hue (red, yellow, blue, etc.) of a water sample
clays) slowly deposited on the bed of a quiescent body of
produced by the combination of: the selective absorption of
waterwhichmayintimebeburiedbyforesetbedsandtopset
visible light, the spectral reflectivity, and the degree of
beds.
darkness or blackness of suspended matter. D7937
boulder size (fluvial sediment), n—larger than 256 mm in DISCUSSION—The combination above is defined by the Munsell
color-classification scheme.
diameter.
composite sample, n—a sample formed by combining two or
braided river, n—a wide- and shallow-river where the flow
more individual samples or representative portions of the
passes through a number of small interlaced channels
samples.
separated by bars or shoals.
concentration (volume), n—the ratio of the volume of dry
calibration turbidity standard, n—a turbidity standard that is
sediment to the volume of the water-sediment mixture.
traceable and equivalent to the reference turbidity standard
to within defined accuracy; commercially prepared 4000
NTU Formazin, stabilized formazin, and styrenedivinylben-
zene (SDVB) are calibration turbidity standards. D7937 Munsell Color Classification System, available from: http://www.munsell.com.
D4410 − 16
concentration of sediment (by mass), n—theratioofthemass detector angle, n—the angle between the axis of the detector
of dry sediment in a water-sediment mixture to the mass of acceptance cone and the axis of the source light or NIR
the mixture. beam. D7937
DISCUSSION—The detector angle equals 180° – θ.(θ is the scattering
critical flow, n—open channel flow in which the energy,
angle.)
expressedintermsofdepthplusvelocityhead,isaminimum
diameter, sedimentation, n—the diameter of a hypothetical
for a given flow rate and channel. D5614
sphere of the same specific gravity and the same settling
DISCUSSION—The Froude number is unity at critical flow.
velocity as the given particle in the same fluid.
debris, n—as applied to geologic debris flows, a mixture of
direct-measuring bed-load sampler, n—a device which
loose, poorly-sorted rock fragments or soil material, or both,
physically collects and holds bed load.
potentially ranging from clay to boulder-size particles that
discharge (water), n—the volume of water flowing through a
may include fragmental organic matter and other exotic
cross-section in a unit of time, including sediment or other
detritus.
solids that may be dissolved in or mixed with the water;
degradation, n—the geologic process by which stream beds,
usually cubic feet per second (f /s), or cubic metres per
flood plains, the bottoms of other water bodies, and other
second (m /s). D5674
land surfaces are lowered in elevation by the removal of
dispersed system, n—in laboratory analysis of grain sizes, an
material by fluids.
initial condition whereby the particles begin to settle from a
delivery rate, n—use sediment delivery ratio or sediment
stirred mixture; when stirring stops, each particle settles
yield, whichever is meant.
independently of other particles.
delta, n—a sediment deposit formed where moving water is
dissolved load, n—the part of the stream load that is carried as
slowed by a slower moving body of water.
dissolved solids.
density, n—the mass of a substance per unit volume, ρ in kg/L
dissolved solids, n—the mass of constituents in a filtered water
or kg/m .
sample.
DISCUSSION—Use ρ for density of solid particles, ρ for water, ρ for
s w d DISCUSSION—For operational purposes, the filter pore is usually
dry sediment with voids, ρ for saturated sediment, ρ for wet
sat wet 0.00045 mm.
sediment, and ρ for submerged sediment (buoyant weight).
b
drainage basin, n—see watershed.
density current, n—the movement of one fluid under, through,
dunes (stream), n—bed forms of coarse sediment, generally
or over another fluid of differing density.
transverse to the direction of flow, with a triangular profile
having a gentle upstream slope.
deposition, n—the chemical, mechanical, or biological pro-
DISCUSSION—Dunes advance downstream by the movement of sedi-
cesses through which sediments accumulate in a resting
mentalongtheupstreamslopeandbythedepositionofsedimentonthe
place.
steep downstream slope. Dunes move downstream at low velocities
compared to the stream flow velocity.
depth-integrated sample, n—a discharge-weighted (velocity-
weighted)sampleofwater-sedimentmixturecollectedatone
ephemeral gully, n—a channel that is formed by gully erosion
or more verticals in accordance with the technique of depth
oncroplandandthatisroutinelybuttemporarilyobscuredby
integration; the discharge of any property of the sample
mechanical operations such as tilling.
expressible as a concentration can be obtained as the product
equal-discharge-increment (EDI) method, n—a procedure
of the concentration and the water discharge represented by
for obtaining the discharge weighted suspended-sediment
the sample.
concentration of flow at a cross section whereby depth
depth-integrating sediment sampler, n—a device that col-
integration is performed at the centers of three or more equal
lects a representative water-sediment mixture at all points
flow segments of the cross section.
along the sampling vertical.
DISCUSSION—If approximately equal volumes of water-sediment
mixture are collected from each flow segment, the samples may be
depth integration, n—a method of sampling at every point
composited for analysis. If unequal volumes are collected, samples
throughout a given depth (the sampled depth) whereby the
from each flow segment must be analyzed separately and the results
water-sediment mixture is collected isokinetically so that the combined mathematically.
contribution from each point is proportional to the stream
equal-width-increment (EWI) method, n—a procedure of
velocity at the point.
obtaining the discharge weighted suspended-sediment con-
DISCUSSION—This process yields a sample with properties that are
centration of flow at a cross section by performing depth
discharge weighted over the sampled depth. Ordinarily, depth integra-
integration at a series of verticals equally spaced across the
tion is performed by traversing either a depth- or point-integrating
cross section and using the same vertical transit rate at all
sampler vertically at an acceptably slow and constant rate; however,
depth integration can also be accomplished with vertical slot samplers. sampling verticals.
detector, n—a solid-state device that converts light into elec- fall velocity, n—the settling rate of a particle in a given
trical current or voltage. D7937 medium.
D4410 − 16
filtrate, n—the fluid that has passed through a filter. hydraulic jump, n—an abrupt transition from supercritical
flow to subcritical or tranquil flow, accompanied by consid-
filtration, n—the process of passing a liquid through a porous
erable turbulence or gravity waves, or both. D5614
medium for the removal of suspended matter.
instantaneous sampler, n—asuspended-sedimentsamplerthat
fine-material load, n—that part of the total sediment load that
takes a representative specimen of the water-sediment mix-
is composed of particles of a finer size than the particles
ture in a stream at a desired depth and moment of time.
present in appreciable quantities in the bed material;
normally, the fine-material load consists of material finer
isokinetic sampling, n—sample done in such a way that the
than 0.062 mm. water-sediment mixture moves with no change in velocity as
it leaves the ambient flow and enters the sampler intake.
flocculant, n—an agent that produces flocs or aggregates from
small suspended particles.
lag deposits, n—the larger and heavier particles that are sorted
out and left behind in stream channels.
flocculating agent, n—a coagulating substance such as alum,
ferrous sulfate, or lime which, when added to water, forms a
lateral accretion deposits, n—see point bar.
precipitate that expedites the settling of suspended matter.
maximum transit rate, n—the maximum speed at which the
sampler can be lowered and raised in the sampling vertical
flocs or floccules, n—masses of solids formed in a liquid by
and still have the sample collected isokinetically.
addition of coagulants (flocculants), or through biochemical
processes, or by agglomeration of individual particles.
measured sediment load, n—that part of the total sediment
discharge that can be measured with available suspended-
fluvial sediment, n—particles derived from rocks, biological
sediment samplers; does not include bed-load discharge and
materials, or chemical precipitants, that are transported by,
suspended sediment discharge very near the bed.
suspended in, or deposited by flowing water.
mechanical analysis, n—a determination of the particle-size
foreset bed, n—the advancing and relatively steep frontal
distribution of a sample by mechanical separation.
slope of a delta, that progressively covers the bottomset bed
and in turn is covered by the topset bed.
median diameter, n—the grain diameter such that half of the
DISCUSSION—Foreset beds represent the greater part of the volume of
sediment by mass is composed of particles of larger size and
a delta.
half by mass is composed of particles of smaller size;
Froude number, n—dimensionless number expressing the commonly denoted by the symbol “D ”.
ratio of inertial to gravity forces in free-surface flow. It is
movable bed, n—a stream bed made up of materials readily
equal to the average velocity divided by the square root of
transportable by the stream flow.
the product of the average depth and the acceleration due to
gravity. D5640
mudflow, n—a mass of water-sediment mixture which, be-
cause of its high viscosity, moves more slowly than water.
gauge height, n—the height of a water surface above an
establishedorarbitrarydatumataparticulargaugingstation;
narrow-band source, n—a light source with a full bandwidth
also termed stage. D5674
(athalfofthesource’smaximumintensity)(FWHM)located
at wavelengths less than 5 nm. D7937
gauging station, n—a particular site on a stream, canal, lake,
or reservoir at which systematic observations of hydrologic
native water, n—waterfromasampledmedium;thiswaterhas
data are obtained. D5674
been unaffected by sampling, handling, and preservati
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4410 − 10 D4410 − 16
Terminology for
Fluvial Sediment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4410; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These terms are to be used by persons involved in collecting, reporting, and interpreting information pertaining to
sedimentation and hydrologic processes as they apply in the development, use, control, and conservation of water and land
resources.
1.2 Some listed terms and definitions are from other ASTM standards and the source document is given in bold type at the end
of the definition.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5614 Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Broad-Crested Weirs
D5640 Guide for Selection of Weirs and Flumes for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water
D5674 Guide for Operation of a Gaging Station
D6855 Test Method for Determination of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Static Mode
D6698 Test Method for On-Line Measurement of Turbidity Below 5 NTU in Water
D7937 Test Method for In-situ Determination of Turbidity Above 1 Turbidity Unit (TU) in Surface Water
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms and Definitions:
accelerated erosion—erosion, n—erosion at a rate greater than geologic or natural erosion.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology,
and Open-Channel Flow.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2010Jan. 1, 2016. Published March 2010February 2016. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20032010 as
D4410 – 03.D4410 – 10. DOI: 10.1520/D4410-10.10.1520/D4410-16.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
DISCUSSION—
Accelerated erosion is usually associated with anthropogenic activities and usually reduces plant cover and increases runoff.
accretion—accretion, n—a process of sediment accumulation.
agglomeration or flocculation, n—the coalescence of dispersed suspended matter into large flocs or particles which settle rapidly.
aggradation—aggradation, n—the geologic process by which stream beds, flood plains, and the bottoms of other water bodies
are raised in elevation by the deposition of material eroded and transported by water from other areas.
alluvial channel, n—see alluvial stream.
alluvial deposit—deposit, n—sediment deposited by the action of moving water.
alluvial fans, n—sediment deposited in the shape of a segment of a cone formed because of a sudden flattening of a stream gradient
especially at debouchures of tributaries on main stream flood plains.
alluvial stream, n—a stream whose boundary is composed of appreciable quantities of the sediments transported by the flow and
which generally changes its bed forms as the rate of flow changes.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4410 − 16
alluviation—alluviation, n—the process of accumulating sediment deposits at places where the flow is retarded.
alluvium—alluvium, n—a general term for all fluvial deposits resulting directly or indirectly from the sediment transport of
(modern) streams, thus including the sediments laid down in riverbeds, flood plains, lakes, fans, and estuaries.
ambient light, n—light or optical path or both that does not originate from the light source of a turbidimeter. D7937
antidunes, n—bed forms that occur at a velocity higher than that velocity which forms dunes and plane beds.
DISCUSSION—
Antidunes commonly move upstream, and are accompanied by, and in phase with, waves on the water surface.
armoring—armoring, n—the formation of a resistant layer of relatively large particles by erosion of the finer particles.
attenuation, n—the amount of incident light that is scattered and absorbed before reaching a detector, which is geometrically
centered at 180° relative to the centerline of the incident light beam. D7937
DISCUSSION—
Attenuation is inversely proportional to transmitted signal.
Attenuated Turbidity 5 Absorbed Light1Scattered Light (1)
DISCUSSION—
The application of attenuation in this test method is as a distinct means of measuring turbidity. When measured in the FAU or AU mode, the turbidity
value is a combination of scattered (attenuated) light plus absorbed light. The scattered light is affected by particle size and is a positive response. The
absorption due to color is a negative response. The sum of these two responses results in the turbidity value in the appropriate unit.
automatic power control (APC), n—the regulation of light power from a source such that illumination of the sample remains
constant with time and temperature. D7937
avulsion—avulsion, n—a sudden, natural change of a stream channel, so that the water flows elsewhere than in its previous course.
bag sampler—sampler, n—a sampler that utilizes a collapsible bag as the sample collection container.
base flow—flow, n—stream flow that is sustained by ground water and other delayed sources.
bed-load—bed-load, n—material moving on or near the stream bed by rolling, sliding, and skipping.
bed-load discharge—discharge, n—the quantity of bed-load passing a cross section of a stream in a unit of time.
bed-load sampler—sampler, n—a device for sampling the bed-load.
bed material—material, n—the sediment mixture of which the stream bed is composed.
bed-material discharge—discharge, n—that part of the total sediment discharge composed of grain sizes occurring in appreciable
quantities in the bed material.
bed-material load—load, n—that part of the total load which is composed of particle sizes present in appreciable quantities in
the shifting portions of the stream bed.
broadband, white-light source, n—a visible-light source that has a full bandwidth at half of the source’s maximum intensity
(FWHM) located at wavelengths greater than 200 nm. D7937
DISCUSSION—
Tungsten-filament lamps (TFLs) and white LEDs are examples of broadband sources.
bottomset bed, n—fine-grained material (usually silts and clays) slowly deposited on the bed of a quiescent body of water which
may in time be buried by foreset beds and topset beds.
boulder size (fluvial sediment)—sediment), n—larger than 256 mm in diameter.
braided river—river, n—a wide- and shallow-river where the flow passes through a number of small interlaced channels separated
by bars or shoals.
D4410 − 16
calibration turbidity standard, n—a turbidity standard that is traceable and equivalent to the reference turbidity standard to
within defined accuracy; commercially prepared 4000 NTU Formazin, stabilized formazin, and styrenedivinylbenzene (SDVB)
are calibration turbidity standards. D7937
DISCUSSION—
These standards may be used to calibrate the instrument. All meters should read equivalent values for formazin standards. SDVB-standard readings
are instrument specific and should not be used on meters that do not have defined values specified for that instrument. Calibration standards that exceed
10 000 turbidity units are commercially available.
calibration-verification standards, n—defined standards used to verify the instrument performance in the measurement range of
interest. D7937
DISCUSSION—
Calibration-verification standards may not be used to adjust instrument calibration, but only to check that the instrument measurements are in the
expected range. Examples of calibration-verification standards are opto-mechanical light-scatter devices, gel-like standards, or any other type of stable
liquid standard. Calibration-verification standards may be instrument-design specific.
channel—channel, n—a natural or artificial waterway that periodically or continuously contains moving water.
channel-fill deposits, n—deposits of sediment within a channel, partly or completely filling the channel.
DISCUSSION—
Such materials accumulate where the transporting capacity has been insufficient to remove it as rapidly as it has been delivered.
classic gully, n—a channel that is formed by gully erosion and is not interrupted by mechanical tillage operations to fill the
resulting void.
DISCUSSION—
Gully depth can exceed 30 m. (see gully erosion.)
clay size (fluvial sediment)—sediment), n—0.00024 to 0.004 mm in diameter.
coagulation, n—the agglomeration of colloidal or finely divided suspended matter caused by the addition to the liquid of an
appropriate chemical coagulant, by biological processes, or by other means (see also agglomeration).
cobble size (fluvial sediment)—sediment), n—64 to 256 mm in diameter.
cohesive sediments—sediments, n—that material whose resistance to initial movement or erosion depends upon the strength of
the bond between particles.
colloids (fluvial sediment)—sediment), n—smaller than 0.00024 mm in diameter.
colluvial deposits—deposits, n—that material accumulated along valley margins by mass movements from the adjacent hillsides.
color, n—the hue (red, yellow, blue, etc.) of a water sample produced by the combination of: the selective absorption of visible
light, the spectral reflectivity, and the degree of darkness or blackness of suspended matter. D7937
DISCUSSION—
The combination above is defined by the Munsell color-classification scheme.
composite sample—sample, n—a sample formed by combining two or more individual samples or representative portions of the
samples.
concentration (volume)—(volume), n—the ratio of the volume of dry sediment to the volume of the water-sediment mixture.
concentration of sediment (by mass)—mass), n—the ratio of the mass of dry sediment in a water-sediment mixture to the mass
of the mixture.
Munsell Color Classification System, available from: http:// www.munsell.com.
D4410 − 16
critical flow—flow, n—open channel flow in which the energy, expressed in terms of depth plus velocity head, is a minimum for
a given flow rate and channel. The Froude number is unity at critical flow. D5614
DISCUSSION—
The Froude number is unity at critical flow.
debris—debris, n—as applied to geologic debris flows, a mixture of loose, poorly-sorted rock fragments or soil material, or both,
potentially ranging from clay to boulder-size particles that may include fragmental organic matter and other exotic detritus.
degradation—degradation, n—the geologic process by which stream beds, flood plains, the bottoms of other water bodies, and
other land surfaces are lowered in elevation by the removal of material by fluids.
delivery rate—rate, n—use sediment delivery ratio or sediment yield, whichever is meant.
delta—delta, n—a sediment deposit formed where moving water is slowed by a slower moving body of water.
density, n—the mass of a substance per unit volume, ρ in kg/L or kg/m .
DISCUSSION—
Use ρ for density of solid particles, ρ for water, ρ for dry sediment with voids, ρ for saturated sediment, ρ for wet sediment, and ρ for
s w d sat wet b
submerged sediment (buoyant weight).
density current—current, n—the movement of one fluid under, through, or over another fluid of differing density.
deposition—deposition, n—the chemical, mechanical, or biological processes through which sediments accumulate in a resting
place.
depth-integrated sample, n—a discharge-weighted (velocity-weighted) sample of water-sediment mixture collected at one or
more verticals in accordance with the technique of depth integration; the discharge of any property of the sample expressible
as a concentration can be obtained as the product of the concentration and the water discharge represented by the sample.
depth-integrating sediment sampler, n—a device that collects a representative water-sediment mixture at all points along the
sampling vertical.
depth integration, n—a method of sampling at every point throughout a given depth (the sampled depth) whereby the
water-sediment mixture is collected isokinetically so that the contribution from each point is proportional to the stream velocity
at the point.
DISCUSSION—
This process yields a sample with properties that are discharge weighted over the sampled depth. Ordinarily, depth integration is performed by
traversing either a depth- or point-integrating sampler vertically at an acceptably slow and constant rate; however, depth integration can also be
accomplished with vertical slot samplers.
detector, n—a solid-state device that converts light into electrical current or voltage. D7937
detector angle, n—the angle between the axis of the detector acceptance cone and the axis of the source light or NIR beam. D7937
DISCUSSION—
The detector angle equals 180° – θ. (θ is the scattering angle.)
diameter, sedimentation—sedimentation, n—the diameter of a hypothetical sphere of the same specific gravity and the same
settling velocity as the given particle in the same fluid.
direct-measuring bed-load sampler—sampler, n—a device which physically collects and holds bed load.
discharge (water), n—the volume of water flowing through a cross-section in a unit of time, including sediment or other solids
3 3
that may be dissolved in or mixed with the water; usually cubic feet per second (f /s), or cubic metres per second (m /s). D5674
dispersed system—system, n—in laboratory analysis of grain sizes, an initial condition whereby the particles begin to settle from
a stirred mixture; when stirring stops, each particle settles independently of other particles.
dissolved load—load, n—the part of the stream load that is carried as dissolved solids.
D4410 − 16
dissolved solids—solids, n—the mass of constituents in a filtered water sample. For operational purposes, the filter pore is usually
0.00045 mm.
DISCUSSION—
For operational purposes, the filter pore is usually 0.00045 mm.
drainage basin—basin, n—Seesee watershedwatershed. .
dunes (stream), n—bed forms of coarse sediment, generally transverse to the direction of flow, with a triangular profile having
a gentle upstream slope.
DISCUSSION—
Dunes advance downstream by the movement of sediment along the upstream slope and by the deposition of sediment on the steep downstream slope.
Dunes move downstream at low velocities compared to the stream flow velocity.
ephemeral gully—gully, n—a channel that is formed by gully erosion on cropland and that is routinely but temporarily obscured
by mechanical operations such as tilling.
equal-discharge-increment (EDI) method, n—a procedure for obtaining the discharge weighted suspended-sediment concen-
tration of flow at a cross section whereby depth integration is performed at the centers of three or more equal flow segments
of the cross section.
DISCUSSION—
If approximately equal volumes of water-sediment mixture are collected from each flow segment, the samples may be composited for analysis. If
unequal volumes are collected, samples from each flow segment must be analyzed separately and the results combined mathematically.
equal-width-increment (EWI) method, n—a procedure of obtaining the discharge weighted suspended-sediment concentration
of flow at a cross section by performing depth integration at a series of verticals equally spaced across the cross section and using
the same vertical transit rate at all sampling verticals.
fall velocity—velocity, n—the settling rate of a particle in a given medium.
filtrate—filtrate, n—the fluid that has passed through a filter.
filtration—filtration, n—the process of passing a liquid through a porous medium for the removal of suspended matter.
fine-material load—load, n—that part of the total sediment load that is composed of particles of a finer size than the particles
present in appreciable quantities in the bed material; normally, the fine-material load consists of material finer than 0.062 mm.
flocculant—flocculant, n—an agent that produces flocs or aggregates from small suspended particles.
flocculating agent—agent, n—a coagulating substance such as alum, ferrous sulfate, or lime which, when added to water, forms
a precipitate that expedites the settling of suspended matter.
flocs or floccules, n—masses of solids formed in a liquid by addition of coagulants (flocculants), or through biochemical processes,
or by agglomeration of individual particles.
fluvial sediment—sediment, n—particles derived from rocks, biological materials, or chemical precipitants, that are transported
by, suspended in, or deposited by flowing water.
foreset bed, n—the advancing and relatively steep frontal slope of a delta, that progressively covers the bottomset bed and in turn
is covered by the topset bed.
DISCUSSION—
Foreset beds represent the greater part of the volume of a delta.
Froude number, n—dimensionless number expressing the ratio of inertial to gravity forces in free-surface flow. It is equal to the
average velocity divided by the square root of the product of the average depth and the acceleration due to gravity. D5640
gauge height—height, n—the height of a water surface above an established or arbitrary datum at a particular gauging station;
also termed stage. D5674
D4410 − 16
gauging station—station, n—a particular site on a stream, canal, lake, or reservoir at which systematic observations of hydrologic
data are obtained. D5674
geologic erosion—or natural erosion, n—the erosion process on or in a given land form that is not associated with the activities
of man.undisturbed by activities of man and his agents.
graded sediment, n—in geology, a sediment consisting chiefly of grains of the same size range.
DISCUSSION—
In engineering, a sediment having a uniform or equable distribution of particles from coarse to fine.
graded stream—stream, n—a stream in which a steady state has been reached such that over a period of time the discharge and
sediment load entering the system are balanced by the discharge and sediment load leaving the system.
grading—grading, n—the degree of mixing of size classes in sedimentary material.
gravel size (fluvial sediment)—sediment), n—between 2.0 andto 64 mm in diameter.
gross erosion—erosion, n—the total of all sheet, gully, and channel erosion in a watershed.
hydraulic jump—jump, n—an abrupt transition from supercritical flow to subcritical or tranquil flow, accompanied by
considerable turbulence or gravity waves, or both. D5614
instantaneous sampler, n—a suspended-sediment sampler that takes a representative specimen of the water-sediment mixture in
a stream at a desired depth and moment of time.
isokinetic sampling—sampling, n—to sample done in such a way that the water-sediment mixture moves with no change in
velocity as it leaves the ambient flow and enters the sampler intake.
lag deposits, n—the larger and heavier particles that are sorted out and left behind in stream channels.
lateral accretion deposits—deposits, n—Seesee point bar.
maximum transit rate—rate, n—the maximum speed at which the sampler can be lowered and raised in the sampling vertical
and still have the sample collected isokinetically.
measured sediment load, n—that part of the total sediment discharge that can be measured with available suspended-sediment
samplers; does not include bed-load discharge and suspended sediment discharge very near the bed.
mechanical analysis, n—a determination of the particle-size distribution of a sample by mechanical separation.
median diameter—diameter, n—the grain diameter such that half of the sediment by mass is composed of particles of larger size
and half by mass is composed of particles of smaller size; commonly denoted by the symbol “D ”.
movable bed, n—a stream bed made up of materials readily transportable by the stream flow.
mudflow, n—a mass of water-sediment mixture which, because of its high viscosity, moves more slowly than water.
narrow-band source, n—a light source with a full bandwidth (at half of the source’s maximum intensity) (FWHM) located at
wavelengths less than 5 nm. D7937
native water, n—water from a sampled medium; this water has been unaffected by sampling, handling, and preservation.
natural levee, n—raised berms or crests above the flood-plain surface adjacent to the channel usually containing coarser materials
deposited by flood flows.
naturally dispersed sample—sample, n—a sample having sediment that will not settle in about 4 h due to the character of
fineness of particles or due to the nature of the dissolved constituents, or both.
nephelometer—nephelometer, n—an instrument that measures the amount of light scattered in a suspension.
nominal diameter, n—the diameter of a sphere that has the same volume as the sediment particle.
DISCUSSION—
Sometimes called equivalent spherical diameter.
noncohesive sediments—discrete particles, the movement of which for given erosive forces depends only upon the properties of
shape, size, and density and upon the relative position of the particle with respect to surrounding particles.
D4410 − 16
operating spectrum, n—the wavelength-by-wavelength products of source intensity, filter transmittance, and detector sensitivity.
D7937
DISCUSSION—
The operating spectrum determines the relative contributions of wavelengths in the light-to-current conversions made by a turbidimeter.
optical opacity, n—an expression for the amount of light absorbed and scattered by a suspension reported as: extinction coefficient,
or percent of incident light scattered in 90°, or percent of incident light transmitted at 180° over a standard distance, or all three.
overland flow—flow, n—rainfall runoff from a surface containing concentrated flow no larger than rill flow.
oxbow lake, n—a lake formed when a meander bend is cut off and its ends filled in, thus isolating the lake from the main channel
of the stream.
particle sieve diameter, n—a measure of the size of a sediment particle; the smallest standard sieve opening through which the
particle will pass. For an elongated particle, it is a measure of its intermediate axis.
DISCUSSION—
For an elongated particle, it is a measure of its intermediate axis.
particle size, n—a linear dimension, usually designated as diameter, used to characterize the size of a particle; the dimension may
be determined by any of several different techniques, including sedimentation, sieving, micrometric measurement, or direct
measurement.
particle-size distribution, n—the relative amount of a sediment sample of a range in specific sizes in terms of percentages by mass
finer than a given size, D, often shown on a semilog plot.
particle-size, intermediate axis, n—the size of a sediment particle determined by direct measurement of the axis normal to a plane
representing the longest and shortest axes.
parts per million, n—mass unit of any substance in a million mass-units of the water-substance mixture.
plane bed—bed, n—a sedimentary stream bed without elevations or depressions larger than the maximum size of the bed material.
point bar—bar, n—one or a series of low ridges, usually of coarse sediment, deposited on the inner (convex) side of a river bend.
point-integrated sample—sample, n—a sample of water-sediment mixture collected at a relatively fixed point in accordance with
the technique of point integration. A point-integrated sample is discharge weighted. However, because the sample is obtained
from a single point, the concentration of any component of the mixture that is transported exactly at stream velocity can be
considered as either a spatial or a discharge-weighted concentration. Samples collected with instruments that instantaneously
capture a quantity of water-sediment mixture are not true point-integrated samples. (See point sample.)
DISCUSSION—
A point-integrated sample is discharge weighted. However, because the sample is obtained from a single point, the concentration of any component
of the mixture that is transported exactly at stream velocity can be considered as either a spatial or a discharge-weighted concentration. Samples
collected with instruments that instantaneously capture a quantity of water-sediment mixture are not true point-integrated samples. (See point sample.)
point-integrating sediment sampler, n—an instrument capable of collecting a water-sediment mixture isokinetically for a
specified period of time by opening and closing under water; an instrument suitable for performing point integration.
point integration—integration, n—a method of sampling at a relatively fixed point whereby the water-sediment mixture is
withdrawn isokinetically for a specified period of time.
point sample, n—sample of water-sediment mixture taken at a single point, either with an instantaneous or a point-integrating
sampler.
pollution—pollution, n—the condition caused by the presence of substances of such character and in such quantities that the
quality of the environment is impaired.
pumping sampler, n—a device that draws the water-sediment mixture through a pipe or hose, the intake of which is placed at the
desired sampling point in a stream.
rating curve, sediment, n—a graph of the relationship between stream discharge and sediment discharge at a stream cross section.
D4410 − 16
DISCUSSION—
The graph is sometimes called a sediment transport curve.
ratio turbidity measurement, n—a standard that is synthesized reproducibly from traceable raw materials by a skilled analyst.
D7937
reference turbidity standard, n—light or optical path or both that does not originate from the light source of a turbidimeter.
D7937
DISCUSSION—
All other standards are traced back to this standard. The reference standard for turbidity is formazin.
regimen of a stream, n—characteristics of a stream with respect to flow duration, form of and changes in channel, capacity to
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